An Indian graduate student named Varun Raj Pucha was attacked in Indiana, United States. Two days after the attack, the US State Department expressed regret and stated that they were “deeply disturbed” by it.
A State Department spokesperson stated, “We are deeply disturbed by reports of a brutal attack against Indian graduate student Varun Raj Pucha. We wish him a full recovery from his injuries. We defer to local law enforcement for any questions about this ongoing case.”
According to PTI, the assailant in this case has been identified as 24-year-old Jordan Andrade. He claimed that he found Pucha “a little weird” and considered him a threat, leading to his reaction, according to PTI. Andrade has been arrested and is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty in court, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Varun Raj Pucha, a computer science student at Valparaiso University, is currently on life support at a hospital. His father, P Ram Murthy, was informed about the incident by his son’s roommate and described Varun’s condition as critical. Pucha’s family emphasized their desire for justice and called for a stern punishment for the attacker.
In a statement, Valparaiso University expressed shock and sadness over the incident. The university’s president, Jose Padilla, mentioned, “We are shocked and saddened by the attack on Varun Raj Pucha. At Valparaiso University, we consider each other family, and this incident is horrifying for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family.”
Varun Raj Pucha, who was pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science, had left for the US in August 2022 and was expected to return home to Khamam next year.