Kansas attack: Govt. engaging with other countries to ensure safety of Indians, says MEA

New Delhi [India], March. 1 (ANI): Even as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that the Indian techie was killed in an alleged racial attack in Kansas, United States, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Bagley on Wednesday said the Indian Government is closely engaging with the authorities in other countries for ensuring the safety of their citizens. "You have rightly pointed out that President Trump has himself condemned the killing. The government will remain closely engaged with the authorities in other countries wherever the safety of the Indians is concerned," Bagley told ANI. Emphasising that the safety of Indians all over the world is a matter of highest priority for the government, Bagley said," You saw that the senior authorities of the US and Kansa, where this unfortunate incident took place, they have had a clear and categorical approach to such crimes they have condemned it they have said that they would persecute and investigate. Earlier today, U.S. President Donald Trump, in his opening speech at a joint session of Congress, said the country is united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms. "We condemn hate in all its ugly forms, the threats targeting Jewish centres and the Kansas shooting," Trump said. "I've directed the DOJ to "form a task force on reducing violent crime," he added. The Congress also observed a minute's silence for Kansas shooting victims. "Moments ago, I led my colleagues in a moment of silence on the House floor for the victims of last week's shooting in Olathe," Rep. Kevin Yoder tweeted. Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot to death in Kansas in an alleged racial attack, after the gunman was heard shouting "get out of my country". According to local media, the gunman, Adam Purinton, 51 who is a Navy veteran was arrested after fleeing the spot of incident, after he allegedly blasted off several rounds on Thursday. The Police say Purinton shot and killed Kuchibhotla, an engineer at GPS maker Garmin International and wounded his colleague Alok Madasani. He was reportedly taken into custody by the police at Applebee's in Clinton, Missouri, about 82 miles southeast of Olathe. Purinton was working as a desktop support specialist for an information technology company in the Kansas City area. The last rites of Kuchibhotla were performed on Tuesday, amidst a wave of emotional upheaval. Rituals were performed at Kuchibhotla's residence in Hyderabad. Kuchibhotla's mortal remains arrived on Monday night. Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali was also present at the airport to receive his body. Police personnel were deployed at the cargo terminal building and Minister of Transport for Telangana, Mahender Reddy was earlier present at the airport but left due to flight's delay. Kuchibhotla was killed when 52-year-old Adam Purinton, walked into Austins Bar and Grill in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe and opened fire on Wednesday evening. Kuchibhotla's friend, Alok Madasani, and Ian Grillot, a bar-goer who tried to intervene in the attack, were also shot, but survived. Witnesses told local media they heard the suspect yell, "Get out of my country." Meanwhile, the FBI has launched an investigation to determine whether the shooting was a hate crime. Purinton has been charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder. (ANI)