Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old exponent of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam pursuing his PhD at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, was tragically shot dead on Tuesday. This incident prompted his friends, associates, and relatives in India to turn to social media, appealing to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the US Embassy for assistance.
Appeal for Help on Social Media for Amarnath Ghosh
Devoleena Bhattacharjee, an actor based in Mumbai, took to social media platform X to express her grief: “My friend Amarnath Ghosh was shot and killed in the St Louis Academy neighborhood in the US on Tuesday evening.
He was the only child in the family; his mother passed away three years ago, and his father during his childhood. The reasons for the incident and details about the assailant remain undisclosed, perhaps leaving no one in his family to seek justice except for a few friends.
He hailed from Kolkata and was an exceptional dancer pursuing his PhD. He was taking an evening stroll when he was suddenly shot multiple times by an unknown assailant. Some friends in the US are trying to claim the body, but there is still no update.”
She tagged the US Embassy, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her post.
Family’s Shock and Grief
Shyamal Ghosh, Amarnath’s uncle residing in Suri, stated, “We were informed about his demise by my sister in New Delhi. We are unaware of the circumstances leading to his death. I visited the Suri Police Station to gather more information. He had a home here. With his parents deceased, he was the sole son.”
Community’s Mourning and Concern
Santanu Dutta, a cinematographer based in Kolkata, reminisced, “I have known dada (Amarnath) for a long time. His mother was my spiritual guru, and we were neighbors in Suri.” Dutta had communicated with Amarnath on Tuesday and was shocked to receive news of his death. “We exchanged WhatsApp messages, and he never mentioned any threats. On Thursday morning, I received a call from his partner, Praveen Paul, informing me that a mobile phone and wallet were found beside the body, and the fingerprints matched Amarnath’s,” Dutta added.
Kuchipudi dancer Srimayi Vempati recounted receiving a call from Amarnath’s friends in the US on Wednesday, informing her of his disappearance. After 24 hours, when the students reported his absence to the police, they were informed of his demise. Suri councillor Suprana Ray expressed concern, stating, “We have urged the administration to gather more information.”
Concerns over Safety of Indian Nationals in the US
In January, Haryana’s Vivek Saini was brutally killed in Georgia, Sameer Kamath committed suicide due to unknown reasons. The hypothermia-induced death of Akul Dhawan and the enigmatic passing of Neel Acharya are some other cases highlighting the unsafe conditions for Indians in the US. 41-year-old Vivek Taneja also died after succumbing to assault injuries in Washington. Last month, an Indian student, Syed Mazahir Ali, faced a brutal attack in Chicago on February 4.
The unfortunate incident adds to a series of crimes against Indians in the US in recent months, highlighting the safety concerns of the Indian community. Several cases of violence, including brutal killings and suicides, have been reported, underscoring the need for better security measures and redressal mechanisms for Indian nationals in the US.
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