Jaahnavi Kandula, a young student lost her life this January in a tragic road accident after being mowed down by a speeding police patrol vehicle. However, it is the racist behaviour of Seattle police officers that has left both the diaspora and Bharatiyas shocked. The Bharatiya consulate raised concerns over the handling of the issue.

Jaahnavi mowed down by a police patrol vehicle

On Monday (September 11), the Seattle Police Department made public footage from the body camera worn by accused officer Daniel Auderer. Auderer left his body camera recording after responding to an incident in the South Lake Union area where a marked patrol vehicle, driven by another officer named Kevin Dave, tragically struck and killed Jaahnavi Kandula, a Bharatiya-origin graduate student in her twenties.

In the released footage, Auderer, who also holds the position of vice president within the Seattle Police Officers Guild, can be seen behind the wheel of a vehicle. He is engaged in a conversation about the accident with the guild’s president, Mike Solan, over the phone. Shockingly, in the video, Auderer can be heard saying, “She is dead,” followed by disturbing cackle of laughter.

Referring to Jaahnavi, Auderer comments, “No, it’s a regular person”. Towards the end of the clip, amidst fits of laughter, he dismissively states, “Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway”, mistakenly stating the victim’s age who was 23 years old. He goes further, saying, “She had limited value”, as reported by the New York Post.

Auderer expressed his belief that a criminal investigation was not warranted, arguing, “I mean, he was going 50 mph. That’s not out of control. That’s not reckless for a trained driver”. However, a June report revealed that Dave was driving at a staggering 74 mph in a 25-mph zone while responding to a separate “high-priority” call, as reported by NBC News, citing KIRO 7.

Bharat’s consulate raises the issue

US lawmakers and the Bharatiya-American community expressed profound outrage over the tragic death of Jaahnavi. The Biden administration has provided assurances to the Bharatiya government of a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident, with a commitment to hold the responsible police officers accountable.

Senior administration officials are closely overseeing the progress of the case from Washington DC, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. They have conveyed their shock and horror at the incident. The Seattle Office of Police Accountability has initiated an investigation into the incident, with a commitment to completing it before January 29.

The Consulate General of Bharat in San Francisco has strongly criticized the handling of Jaahnavi’s death, deeming it deeply troubling. They stated that they are actively engaging with local authorities in Seattle and Washington State, as well as senior officials in Washington DC, to ensure a comprehensive investigation and appropriate measures against those involved in this tragic case. The mission is committed to closely monitoring the matter with all relevant authorities.

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna expressed his condolences for Jaahnavi Kandula’s untimely passing and condemned the callous statement made by Officer Auderer. He emphasized that every Bharatiya immigrant’s life holds immeasurable value and asserted that individuals who devalue human life should not be in law enforcement.

Community leader Ajay Bhutoria also conveyed his condolences and stressed the importance of safety and respect for all community members. He strongly criticized the unacceptable behaviour displayed by the Seattle police officer and called for a thorough probe of such incidents to maintain trust in law enforcement agencies. Bhutoria urged swift action and preventive measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future, calling for unity in supporting Jaahnavi’s family and advocating for positive change.

Writer and academic Vamsee Juluri expressed his pain at the shocking state of affairs, wherein Hindus are being demonized and hounded in present-day American media and academia as ‘casteist oppressors’, while the lives of our students who go there to study and contribute to the American economy are treated with such racist contempt.

That Jaahnavi’s death did not draw widespread condemnation from American society as it did in the case of George Floyd points at the anti-Bharat and anti-Hindu sentiment fostered in America.