[Politics] Indian students' deaths in the US – the community wants answers

[Wolf.17]

 

Dejected. That's how Jey Sushil, a student at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, says he feels.

Mr Sushil is still shaken by the death in February of fellow student Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old classical dancer from India. Local police are investigating it as a homicide case.

Mr Sushil says he found out about Ghosh's death through a friend in India before receiving any information from his university.

"They told us after two days. Students are not very happy with the overall response. It's like, who cares about how Indians feel?"

Ghosh was fatally shot off campus in a city street. The university clarified that it communicates a student's death only after law enforcement confirms the identity, a process that takes time, and with consent from the student's next of kin.

Calling it a "horrible tragedy", the VC of Marketing and Communications at Washington University in St. Louis, Julie Flory said, "We shared this sad news with members of our community as soon as we could and according to the wishes of Amarnath's closest contacts."

The St. Louis Police Department said it "takes 48 hours to establish identity" of the deceased and "in many cases, much longer".

Ghosh is among the 11 Indian or Indian-origin students who have died in the US so far this year, sparking fears about personal safety within the community.

The causes of death have varied, from hypothermia to suicide to shooting. Experts say there is no discernible link between these unrelated incidents. As each tragedy echoes through campuses, students carry on with their daily routines, balancing fears amid academic demands.

"We avoid going out after dark. We have identified places in the city that are unsafe in the evenings. What else can we do?" Mr Sushil asks.

Like him, others also complain that their universities do not report the deaths on time, and they find out about them through Indian media or from relatives back home.

Mohammad Abdul Arfath, 25-year-old student of Cleveland State University (CSE), was found dead earlier this month after he went missing in March.

A student, who wanted to stay anonymous and joined the college at the same time as Arfath, said he found out about his death through a WhatsApp message from his parents.

"My parents reminded me that I have to stay on guard," he said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-68832876