HOUSTON – Hundreds of people, holding placards that called for peace and unity, took part in a prayer vigil in Kansas City to celebrate the life of Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla, tragically cut short by an American navy veteran in an apparent hate crime.
Marchers held pictures, banners and shouted, “We want peace”; “We love peace”; “Let us not leave our children”; “Unity is part of community, together we stand, divided we fall”. Many of them carried candles and signs reading, “We don’t support politics of hate.”
The march for peace and prayer meeting was attended by friends of Srinivas. Alok Madasani, another Indian who was wounded in the shooting on Wednesday, was on his crutches.
The sisters of the third man, an American identified as Ian Grillot, injured that night when he intervened during the argument with the shooter US Navy veteran Adam Purinton, and Lieutenant Governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer, US Congressman Kevin Yoder, Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, Olathe Police Chief Steven Menke, and other state officials also joined the prayer meet.
The prayer was conducted by priests from various religions at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre, Kansas City. It opened with Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh prayers and ended with participants singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. Volunteers handed out candles as visitors stoically made their way into the temple.
Srinivas, 32, was killed and Alok, of the same age, was injured in the shooting by the 51-year-old Purinton screaming racial slurs and telling them to “get out of my country”and “terrorist”before he opened fire on them. He reportedly mistook them for immigrants from the Middle East.
The incident has led to fear among the minority Indian- American community, who feel being targeted by US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to ban travellers from certain countries to realise his campaign pledge of putting “America first.”
At the vigil, Mayor Copeland encouraged people to come together. “One evil act does not divide a united community.”We felt the fear, shared tears, felt pain, healing and outpouring of love and care at this moment from this community — we stand together with the Indian-American community today and everyday, we will not let one act of evil separate us or divide us.”
Police chief Menke assured everyone, saying “we are one and we stand as one. we are here to deplore. we assure everyone that we will do everything to bring justice to the victim and victims family in this case.” Lt Governor Colyer said, “We will overcome evil and move from darkness to light.”
The body of Srinivas Kuchibhotla arrived in Hyderabad on Monday, from where it will be taken to his home for final rites. Telangana Deputy CM Mahmood Ali was present among others to receive the body at the airport. Police personnel were deployed at the cargo terminal building and Transport Minister Mahender Reddy was earlier present at the airport but left due to flight’s delay. — Agencies
Alok Madasani, another Indian who was wounded in the shooting on Wednesday, remembered his nine years of friendship with Srinivas. “Srini was the kindest person you would meet, full of love, care and compassion for everyone. He never uttered a word of hatred, a simple gossip, or a careless comment. He would always make sure everyone is doing fine and taken good care.”
“The main reason why I am here is that’s what my best friend, Srinivas, would have done. He would have been here for me,”Alok said.
He recalled how Srinivas never complained about picking him up and driving him to work over a six-month period. “He waited till I bought a car. That’s the kind of guy he was, is. I don’t even want to use ‘was’ because we were friends for nine years and the memories are so fresh,”Alok said.
Washington: The American who was injured while intervening in the shooting that killed an Indian and injured another in an apparent hate crime in the US has said he was more than happy to risk his life to save others’ lives.
In a video posted on the University of Kansas Health System’s YouTube page, 24-year-old Grillot said, “I was more than happy to risk my life to save the lives of others, there were families, there were kids inside there were boys watching a basketball game”.
“I couldn’t stand there. I had to do something. That is why I acted the way I did,”the construction worker said.
