US shooting: Srinivas family grief-stricken

​Hyderabad: A pall of gloom descended in the entire gated community of Praneeth Homes at Mallampet near Bachupally in Qutbullapur mandal when Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s parents and family learnt about his death in a shooting at a restaurant in Kansas, USA, after an American navy veteran yelling "terrorist" and "get out of my country" opened fire on him and another two persons.

The parents were so grief stricken that they were in no condition to speak. Father of Srinivas, K Madhusudhan Rao is a former employee of IDPL and has been residing in the locality after his retirement.

Some cousins of Srinivas consoled his parents and other family members and told reporters that after completing B Tech from JNTUH, Srinivas left for the US in 2005 for MS. Second of three brothers, Srinivas, 32 got married four years ago and was a very hardworking person. “He was highly appreciated by his managers at his workplace.

In 2014, he shifted to Garmin, an electronics manufacturing company as aviation programme manager. We have been told the shooting is a hate crime. Srinivas was a very good person... We miss him," an inconsolable Krishnamohan (cousin) said. They said, "This is a hate crime attack.

We normally won't answer when such people shout. I have myself worked in the US and I know it. I think my cousin also might have not answered back. Probably, after Donald Trump was elected as US President we are seeing this... We feel racist attacks have increased.

Previously there were incidents once in a while, now they have become frequent. It happened in our house this time. It's very sad," Venu Madhav, another cousin, said.

However, they thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for immediate response in the matter by sending two officials for completing the formalities. They said that Sushma Swaraj spoke to Madhusudhan Rao and expressed condolences over the death of his son.

She assured the family of all support, particularly in fulfilling all formalities to bring the body of Srinivas home. The Minister in a tweet condemned the ghastly incident and said all help will be extended to the family.

He said that the family was receiving support from Indian embassy there. Even TANA is coordinating with the authorities there. TANA president spoke to the father of Srinivas. The family members said Srinivas's brother who stays in Dallas was coordinating to complete the formalities. “Till now the body has not been given to us and we are expecting the body to be handed over tonight," he said.

According to Mohan, they are hoping that the body of his brother-in-law would arrive here by Monday. Meanwhile, Alok Madasani, a colleague and friend of Srinivas hailing from Warangal, was also seriously hurt in the shooting and admitted to hospital in Kansas.

His father Jaganmohan Reddy, who stays in Chaitanyapuri said his elder son who also stays in the US called him this morning and informed him about the shooting incident and said that his younger son (Alok), was injured and has been admitted to a hospital. "I have spoken to Alok... He is doing fine... I am planning to go to the US and meet him," Jaganmohan said.

Jaganmohan said as per the information he got, Srinivas, Alok and an American Ian Grillot were in the restaurant. The moment the attacker saw Srinivas and Alok he started shouting at them and asked them to leave the country. Neither Srinivas nor Alok argued with him. But he continued shouting and within minutes came out with a gun and fired a round at Srinivas who was near the food counter.

After hearing the bullet shots he ran out but one bullet after hitting the wall hit my son in his thighs. My son escaped...and saved his life. The American was also shot by the attacker... unfortunately Srinivas died in the shooting, Jaganmohan added. He said that he had now asked his son, Alok, to quit his job and return home.

“The situation seems to be pretty bad after Trump took over as US President. I appeal to all parents in India not to send their children to the US in the present circumstances,” he said. Later in the evening Jaganmohan and his family called on the parents of Srinivas and offered their condolences.