Naidu visits family of Indian techie killed in US

He said strong action should be taken against hate crimes.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead in a US bar recently.

Naidu tweeted: "Visited family of Srinivas Kuchibotla, victim of #Kansaskilling & offered my condolences. Strong action should be taken against hate crimes."

While the Kansas bar shooting incident in which an Indian engineer was shot dead and two others were injured  is considered to be a hate crime, a long time neighbour of the accused said he was a "drunken mess" after his father died, media reports said.

The neighbour said that the accused in the US shooting case used to drink before also but he turned a "drunken mess" after his father passed away about 18 months ago.

According to The Kansas City Star, the Olathe man who reportedly told the victims to “get out of my country” before he shot them in an Olathe bar was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of one of the victims.

The killer has been identified as 51-year-old Adam W. Purinton. “It was a tragic and senseless act of violence,” said Olathe Police Chief Steven Menke.

According to Kansas City Star, Kuchibhotla died at a hospital after the 7:15 p.m. shooting in Austins Bar & Grill near 151st Street and Mur-Len Road.

The victim's company Garmin issued a public statement: “We’re saddened that two Garmin associates were involved in last night’s incident, and we express our condolences to the family and friends of our co-workers involved. Garmin will have grievance counselors on-site and available for its associates today and tomorrow."

Images: M Venkaiah Naidu Twitter page