The White House has stated that US President Joe Biden and his administration are diligently working to prevent and deter attacks targeting Indian and Indian American students. This declaration was made by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, amidst a recent surge in assaults against Indian and Indian American students across various regions of the country.
Kirby emphasized that violence, especially based on factors such as race, gender, or religion, is unacceptable in the United States. He assured reporters that President Biden and his administration are exerting significant efforts to collaborate with state and local authorities to prevent and disrupt such attacks. Kirby stressed that those responsible for such violence will be held accountable.
Recent incidents include the tragic death of Vivek Saini, a part-time student at a department store, who was attacked by a drug addict in Lithonia, Georgia in January. Another instance involved the assault of Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student at Indiana Wesleyan University, in February.
Additionally, there have been reports of the deaths of at least four Indian American students in recent weeks. Akul Dhawan from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Neel Acharya from Purdue University died, seemingly due to excessive drinking followed by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures at night in January. Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, an Indian-origin student at the Lindner School of Business in Cincinnati, was found dead in Ohio this month.
Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria expressed deep concern over the tragic deaths of these students in separate incidents and emphasized the urgent need for improved safety measures for those pursuing education in the US. Bhutoria urged college authorities and local police to promptly address these challenges.
He noted that such incidents understandably cause worry among parents and families in India, and emphasized the importance of addressing safety issues to ensure the well-being of Indian students studying in the USA. Bhutoria highlighted the unity of the Indian American community in calling for enhanced safety measures and support systems.