Indian students in the US are concerned about increasing violence

HYDERABAD: Indian students in the US are increasingly concerned about their safety following a rise in violent attacks and road accidents over the past six months. This growing fear has caused many to rethink their plans and routines.

In recent months, several Indian students have been victims of violent attacks, causing concern in the community. Vivek Saini, 25, was brutally attacked and killed by a homeless man in Georgia on January 16.

Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, a 19-year-old student, was found dead in New York. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old who went missing in Cleveland, was found dead.

In addition, there has been a worrying number of road accidents involving Indian students. In May, three Indian students, Aryan Joshi, Sriya Avasarala and Anvi Sharma, lost their lives in a car accident in Alpharetta, Georgia, and two others were seriously injured. Belem Atchyuth, an Indian student in New York, had a motorcycle accident and lost his life. This has further increased the insecurity of students in the United States. Rahul Sharma, a student at the University of California, shared his concerns. “I used to feel safe here, but now I have to constantly look around. It’s hard to concentrate on my studies when I’m afraid of being attacked.”

Another student, G. Krishna Reddy, who just graduated, said, “The accidents are just scary. A friend of mine was hit by a car last month. She survived, but it was a close call.” He added, “We need better safety measures and more support from the authorities.”

The increase in these incidents has not gone unnoticed by the authorities. A spokesperson for the Indian Embassy in the US said: “We are concerned about the safety of our students. We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that the right measures are taken to protect them. The well-being of our citizens is our top priority.”

Despite these assurances, students like Vaishnavi Rao remain worried. “I call my family every day to tell them I’m fine. It’s hard for them and for me. We came here to study and build a future, but now safety is a constant worry.”

As the community searches for solutions, students hope that the Indian government and local authorities will take action to improve the safety of Indian students in the United States.