Indian student found dead in US; 6th case in less than two weeks

PTC Web Desk: In a tragic incident, Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American doctoral student pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Purdue University, was found dead on Monday evening in the Crow's Grove Nature Preserve, part of the Niches Land Trust in Williamsport, according to the Warren County Coroner's office.

Sameer Kamath had already completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in August 2023 and was a US citizen, as confirmed by the coroner's office. The body was found around 5 pm on Monday, and Warren County Coroner Justin Brummett released a news statement on Tuesday afternoon providing details of the incident.

Kamath had a background in mechanical engineering, having received his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before enrolling at Purdue in 2021. His LinkedIn profile indicated that he was on track to graduate from the doctoral programme in mechanical engineering in 2025.

The tragic incident involving Kamath adds to a concerning trend of attacks on Indian students in the United States. Recently, there have been reports of several incidents, highlighting the vulnerability and safety concerns faced by Indian students studying abroad.

One distressing incident involved Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student in Chicago, whose video surfaced on February 7, showing him bleeding profusely and desperately seeking help after being attacked by robbers. This marked the fourth such case in recent days.

Another case involved the death of 19-year-old student Shreyas Reddy Beniger, who held an American passport. The authorities ruled out foul play, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain under scrutiny. Neel Acharya, a student at Purdue University, was found dead on campus hours after being reported missing by his mother.

In a particularly brutal incident, 25-year-old student Vivek Saini from Haryana was hammered to death in Georgia's Lithonia by a homeless man on January 16. Additionally, Akul Dhawan, another Indian student, was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus in January.

These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of Indian students studying in the United States. The Indian diaspora and community leaders are urging authorities to address these issues promptly and take measures to ensure the safety of international students. The tragic death of Sameer Kamath serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by students pursuing their education abroad and the need for increased vigilance and support for their well-being.

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