India Seeks Probe After US Cops Caught Joking Over Andhra Student’s Death

In a distressing incident that has garnered international attention, India has called on the United States to conduct a thorough investigation into the shocking bodycam footage of a Seattle police officer making callous jokes about the death of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula, who tragically lost her life after being struck by a speeding police vehicle.

The Tragic Incident

Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old master’s student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, met with a fatal accident in January when she was struck by a police car driven by Officer Kevin Dave, who was reportedly travelling at nearly 120 kilometres per hour while responding to a call about a drug overdose, as reported by the Seattle Times newspaper.

Shocking Footage Emerges

Recently, the Seattle Police Department released bodycam footage that has sparked outrage. In the video, another police officer can be heard making heartless remarks and laughing while discussing the tragic accident.

The officer identified as Seattle Police Officers’ Guild Vice President Daniel Auderer can be heard saying, “She is dead,” followed by laughter, and referring to Ms. Kandula as “a regular person.” He further made insensitive comments, stating, “Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars.” The disturbing clip concludes with him mistakenly stating Ms Kandula’s age as 26, saying, “She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.”

Indian Consulate’s Strong Response

In response to this deeply distressing incident, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco has expressed its deep concern and sought immediate action against those involved in the case. In a statement posted on social media, the consulate stated, “Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms. Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling.” The consulate further added, “We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation & action against those involved in this tragic case.” It emphasized its commitment to closely monitoring the case with all relevant authorities.

Community Outpouring

Jaahnavi Kandula, originally from Andhra Pradesh, had been pursuing her master’s degree at Northeastern University in Seattle. In response to the tragic loss, a GoFundMe fundraiser was launched to support her family. Her uncle, Ashok Kandula, was quoted as saying on the fundraising page, “The family has nothing to say. Except I wonder if these men’s daughters or granddaughters have value. A life is a life.”

This incident has not only sparked outrage within the Indian community but has also drawn attention to the importance of addressing insensitivity and misconduct within law enforcement agencies. The global community will be closely watching as investigations into this distressing incident progress.