Boston, Apr 23 (IBNS) The 24-year-old Indian student, who was found dead near Boston University, was not a victim of 'hate crime', said a top official.
Odisha student Kanagala Seshadri Rao, enrolled for an MBA degree in Mathematical Finance (treasury management) at Boston University, was shot in the head and leg in Allston on Apr 19 and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police officials.
"Rao's murder is not a hate crime but an isolated incident," said Telugu Association of North America Executive Vice-President Mohan Nannapaneni.
According to Boston police, officers arrived at the scene early Thursday morning and found Rao lying on the street in a residential area off campus.
No arrests have been made in the case yet, which is being investigated by the Boston Police Department and the Boston University Police Department.
The shooting has shocked students and faculty at the university at a time when prospective students are touring campus to decide whether to enroll, the Boston Globe said.
“Our prayers go out to the Rao family and friends,” said Boston University President Robert A. Brown. “We are all deeply saddened by his death.”
“This appears to be an isolated incident,” Brown said. “I want to assure all students, whether they live on campus or off campus, that public safety is a priority for this institution.”
Dean of the School of Management Kenneth W. Freeman described Rao as a bright young man who was known to everyone by his nickname, “Sesh.”
He attracted many friends and won the respect of faculty and staff with his “positive, can-do” attitude, Freeman said.
“Sesh was a wonderful student here and he was also a wonderful representative of the school of management,” Freeman told the Globe.
Naveen Patnaik, chief minister of the Indian state of Odisha from where Rao hails, strongly condemned the killing and discussed the matter with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.
Krishna, who was at Madrid in Spain on Saturday evening, assured the Odisha government on that the Centre would "seriously" take up the issue, media reports said.
Patnaik also spoke to the Indian Ambassador in Washington Nirupama Rao about Rao’s murder, expressing his anguish over the incident.
"Both of them assured the chief minister that they are on the job seriously," a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said.
"The Indian Consulate has taken charge of the body and it will be sent to India shortly," the statement said.
