The Consulate General of India in San Francisco on Thursday took cognizance of the video showing an American police officer laughing over the death of 23-year-old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula by a speeding police patrol car in Seattle.
The Consulate called the matter “deeply troubling” and said they have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation & action against those involved in this tragic case.
The video of Officer Daniel Auderer laughing about the death of Kandula has outraged people on social media. He also said, “She had limited value.”
Kandula, who hailed from Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing a master’s degree from the Northeastern University campus in South Lake Union. She was killed on January 23 this year after being struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave.
Dave was driving on the way to an overdose call, news agency PTI quoted the report in the Seattle Times newspaper.
Seattle police oversight organisation, the Community Police Commission, described the audio as “heartbreaking and shockingly insensitive.”
“The people of Seattle deserve better from a police department that is charged with fostering trust with the community and ensuring public safety,” the organisation’s press release said.
“This is appalling. I hope to see justice for Jaahnavi Kandula’s family and accountability for those involved,” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal posted on X.
