Washington/ Seattle, Sep 14: The Biden administration has assured the Indian government of a quick investigation into the horrific death of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Seattle after being struck by a speeding police patrol car and bringing to justice the police officers who were responsible for it.
The US government swung into action after India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, strongly raised the issue at the highest level in Washington and sought prompt action on the killing of Kandula, and the highly insensitive behaviour of the police officer in Seattle in Washington state.
Kandula, 23, was killed in January after she was struck by a police vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave. He was driving 74 mph (more than 119 kmph) on the way to a report of an overdose, the Seattle Times newspaper reported on Monday.
Kandula was in the crosswalk and was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the police patrol car on January 23.
In bodycam footage released on Monday by the Seattle Police Department, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the deadly crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary.
US lawmakers and Indian-Americans have expressed outrage over the death of Kandula.
The Biden administration has assured the Indian government of a quick investigation into the incident and bring to justice the police officers who were responsible for it.
Senior administration officials are believed to have assured the Ambassador and the Indian government that the entire incident has been taken very seriously by them. (PTI)
