India raises hate crime issue with US

New Delhi: The US government on Monday assured India of working with all agencies to ensure “speedy justice” to Indian-American victims of hate crimes. There have been three attacks on Indian-Americans in the US in the past 10 days.

India’s ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna had reached out to the state department to convey his “deep concerns” to the US over the spate of attacks on Indian-Americans.

He also “underlined the need to prevent such incidents and protect the Indian community”.

Harnish Patel, 43, owner of a convenience store in Lancaster County, South Carolina, was found dead of gunshot wounds in his home on Thursday.

Deep Rai, a 39-year-old Sikh, was shot at outside his home in Kent, near Seattle, on Friday by a partially masked gunman, who shouted, “Go back to your own country.” He received a bullet injury in his arm.

These incidents followed the fatal shooting of Srinivasan Kuchibhotla, an IT engineer from Hyderabad, at a Kansas bar on February 23.

The FBI has joined the investigation into the attack on Mr Rai.

“The Seattle FBI is assisting the Kent police department through a joint investigation of the shooting incident. The FBI remains committed to investigating crimes that are potentially hate-motivated and we continue to work with all our community partners in the Seattle area,” FBI Seattle spokesperson Ayn Dietrich was quoted as saying.

The FBI is also investigating the murder of Kuchibhotla who was killed when 51-year-old US Navy veteran Adam Purinton opened fire at him, yelling, “Get out of my country”.

“The state department, on behalf of US govt, expressed condolences and assured they are working with all agencies concerned to ensure speedy justice,” the Indian embassy in the US said in a series of tweets.

Indian embassy officials are in constant communication with local police officials on probes into the attacks.

Meanwhile, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera has condemned the shooting of Mr Rai, saying crimes motivated by hate are on the rise. “This disturbing crime is an outrage that goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants,” Mr Bera said. “On the heels of the Kansas shooting, crimes motivated by hate are on the rise,” Mr Bera said. “Xenophobia and racism have no place in America, and we as a nation need to stand up to these hate crimes — starting with the President (Donald Trump). Thankfully, the victim is recovering and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” said Mr Bera, a three-term Indian American Congressman from California.

Sikh Coalition interim programme manager, Rajdeep Singh, said, “Immigrants and religious minorities are being attacked around the nation, but the Trump administration has not even created a task force to address this issue... The White House needs to show leadership in preventing hate violence.”

Mr Rai was apparently working on his vehicle outside his home in Kent when he was approached by a stranger in his home’s driveway.