Paruchuri Abhijit, a 20-year-old student from Guntur district, met a tragic end at the hands of unidentified assailants in the United States. His lifeless body was discovered inside an abandoned car in a forest. Abhijit, the only son of Paruchuri Chakradhar and Srilakshmi, had been recognized as a brilliant student from his early years.
After securing a seat in engineering, Abhijit ventured to Boston University for his studies. The motive behind his murder is speculated to be related to monetary gain and the theft of his laptop. However, suspicions have arisen regarding the circumstances of the murder, hinting at potential altercations with fellow students at the university.
This tragic incident adds to a series of assaults on Indians and Indian-Americans in the United States in recent times. Among them was Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer from India, pursuing his master's degree at Washington University.
A series of deaths among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), particularly in the US, has highlighted the concerning aspects of crowdfunding. Families of some of the deceased have expressed how, under the guise of repatriating the mortal remains, intermediaries raise significant funds through crowdfunding platforms, Times of India reported.
In numerous instances, these intermediaries—often acquaintances—either embezzle the entire sum or provide only a meager portion to the grieving family.
On average, it costs approximately US$ 5,000 to repatriate a body to India from a foreign country, according to members of social organizations. However, the raised funds often exceed this amount by a significant margin.
A basic search on a popular American crowdfunding platform reveals over 500 instances of such arrangements, with some campaigns raising over US$50,000 to assist families in India with repatriating their loved one's remains.
Social organizations and individuals closely connected with the diaspora in the US highlight how crowdfunding has become the primary choice for assistance in cases of death or trouble. While many genuine individuals seek help, there are instances of misuse as well.
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