A student from Hyderabad, presently pursuing an engineering course in Chicago, was allegedly shot at when he was at the parking lot in Alabny Park neighbourhood in Chicago.
The student, identified as Mohammed Akbar, is a resident of Meerpet in the city. The incident occurred when he was about to board his car and the identity of the assailants and the reasons for the shooting were not known immediately. Akbar’s father, Mohammed Yousuf, said Akbar was injured in the cheek and was rushed to a local hospital where he is undergoing treatment. According to his family members, Akbar is pursuing masters in computer systems networking and telecommunications.
Meanwhile, Akbar’s family met Home Minister Nayini Narsimha Reddy and sought his help in securing visas for the family members who wish to be with him at the hospital. Mr. Yousuf said his son needed them at the hospital as there were no acquaintances to help him there.
Mr. Yousuf also urged the Government to take up the issue with the US Government to safeguard Indian students and citizens there as this was not an isolated case.
There have been several instances of Indians getting shot in the US in recent times. Some of the students from Telangana who faced violence in the last couple of years were Mubeen Ahmed and V. Vamshichand Reddy, both in California. Vamshi went to the US in 2015 for higher studies and was shot at days after he finished his Masters.
The incident that shook the entire country and also raised concern in the US was the killing of Srinivas Kuchibotla in Olathe in Kansas by an American, Adam Purinton, who is now facing trial in the case. In the same incident, Alok Madasani was injured.
