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American cop's 'limited value' comment over Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula's death in road accident sparks massive outrage

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 14 Sep 2023, 08:23 am

Seattle (US): The alleged remarks of an American cop over the death of an Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, revealed in a viral video, has triggered massive outrage. The 23-year-old student of Northeastern University was hit by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle and her body was, reportedly, thrown some 100 feet away.

In a video, recovered from a body-worn camera of vice-president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Daniel Auderer, the cop reportedly said Kandula had ‘little value’ and the city should write her kins a cheque.

“Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway…She had limited value,” Auderer is heard talking about the accident in a call with the guild's president Mike Solan.

He laughed several times after saying “she is dead”.

According to Fox13 Seattle, the accused driver, Kevin Dave, was driving the car at 74 mph (119 kmph) on the way to a report of an overdose when he hit Kandula at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.

The student was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to reports.

Media reports said that the entire episode of Auderer, allegedly making fun of Kandula’s unfortunate and untimely death caused by a police car, is being investigated by a police watchdog agency in Seattle.

Jason Rantz, a host on KTTH-AM talk radio, later stated that he had acquired a written statement given by Daniel to the city's Office of Police Accountability. In the statement, Daniel allegedly explained that his comments were meant to replicate how the city's attorneys might respond to the incident. He also mentioned that Mike expressed sorrow over Jaahnavi's passing.

Jaahnavi had come to Seattle from India’s Bengaluru in 2021 to study for master’s degree, and was pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the College of Engineering. She was going to get the degree this December.

Meanwhile, India on Wednesday demanded a “thorough investigation” into the incident amid the uproar.Jaahnavi Kandula was raised by a single mother, who worked as an elementary school teacher. According to media reports, the mother took out loan so that Jaahnavi could travel to the US and pursue the degree.

Jaahnavi Kandula was raised by a single mother, who worked as an elementary school teacher. According to media reports, the mother took out loan so that Jaahnavi could travel to the US and pursue the degree.