Kansas shooting: India salutes heroism of Ian Grillot, says Swaraj

New Delhi, Feb. 27 (ANI): Saluting the heroism of Ian Grillot, who suffered injuries in his arm and chest while trying to tackle the shooter at a Kansas city bar who opened fire on two Indian men, External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday wished for his speedy recovery. "India salutes the heroism of Ian Grillot ! Best wishes for a speedy recovery," she tweeted. A 24-year old American Ian Grillot is being hailed for his heroic efforts. However, he reckons he did what anyone else would have done at the time. In the tragic incident, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot to death, but Alok Madasani managed to survive thanks to the heroic efforts of Grillot, who tried to snatch the gun away from the shooter. "It just put the biggest smile on my face. I'm just very grateful that one of the gentlemen is fine and alive. It's terrible what happened to his friend," The Kansas City Star quoted Grillot as saying. Stating that he considers Madasani as his new best friend, Grillot hoped that the two could spend some time together when both of them get out of the hospital. "I don't think it's going to be at the bar, though. Maybe over a backyard grill and a couple of beers," he said. Grillot jumped up to pursue the gunman after he thought the gunman was out of bullets. However, he was unfortunate as there was still a one round left with the gunman, who used it to shoot Grillot. Grillot was injured after the bullet went through his hand and then into his chest. In a video released by the University of Kansas Health System, Grillot guessed that he might have miscounted the shots before attacking the gunman. "I wasn't really thinking when I did that. It was just, it wasn't right, and I didn't want the gentleman to potentially go after somebody else," he said. However, Grillot is now in stable condition and is expected to recover soon. Grillot said that he was just doing what anyone should have done. "It's not about where he's from, or ethnicity. We're all humans," he said. A fundraiser GoFundMe has been set up to assist all three men, said local U.S. media reports. (ANI)