A simple way to take the pulse of the Mutiny is to pay attention to tip volume and composition. When the same story is sent in (and for a period is the ONLY story submitted to the tip line), it’s a powerful indicator of what you want to talk about…today, it’s tragedy at a major American public university:
Two students were found shot to death in a home invasion at a Louisiana State University apartment, and officials decided to keep the campus open Friday while police searched for three suspects.
The victims, Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma and Kiran Kumar Allam, both Ph.D. students from India, were found inside an apartment at the Edward Gay complex late Thursday night after authorities received an emergency call. [yahoo]
That emergency call came from Allam’s pregnant wife, who discovered the murder scene at her apartment.
The 911 call was made by Allam’s pregnant wife, who returned home and found the men dead. Authorities said both men had been shot in the head once in what is described as an area with one of the highest crime rates in the city.
Komma, who was studying biochemistry, was found bound with a computer cable, while Allam, who was in the chemistry programme, was near the front door. Initial reports said nothing appears to have been stolen from the house. [TOI]
The apartments are a vulnerable, easy target:
The apartment building where the shootings took place is designated for married and graduate students, and is near a field on the 2,000-acre campus where the university’s band practices. A cluster of pale yellow cinderblock, three-story buildings, it sits on the edge of the campus…
The complex has a tall fence separating it from the off-campus neighborhood, but the apartments have no gates or surveillance cameras…attempted break-ins and holdups are common at the complex. [yahoo]
Logically, TOI zeroed in on the anxiety most of you conveyed in your emails:
Phani Mylavarpu, a 26-year-old Indian student pursuing a mechanical engineering Ph.D., told the local Times-Picayune that he was an acquaintance of both victims, having met them at social events of the Indian Student Association, which brings together Indian students on the campus.
Mylavarpu, a former president of the group, said Indian students have spent much of the day talking with each other talking with each other about the crimes and fielding telephone calls from concerned relatives and friends from India.
The homicides appear to be ”a random, unfortunate act” not targeting the victims because of their nationality, Mylavarpu said, echoing the local authorities.
But he said international students, who often congregate together and comprise a considerable portion of the residences in select housing units, want to be assured that their safety is a priority for campus police.
”I’m not blaming the safety system,” he said, ”but things like this are still happening, and it leaves us concerned on behalf of the international student community.” [TOI]
Many of you who sent this story in noted that you were especially affected by it because you are DBDs who are currently in grad school, just like Komma and Allam were. Just last week, one of our readers in Bangalore asked me if America was “so violent”; he was thinking about pursuing a degree in this country but he was worried about “racism and crime”. My insouciant “it’s not so bad here” seems really lame, right now.
My thoughts and prayers are with their families, especially Allam’s wife and the unborn child she will have to explain this senseless loss to, one day.
::
On an uglier note– Shame on LSU. I couldn’t believe one of the links I read (now altered, natch) which quoted a school official as stating that this was an opportunity to test out the emergency text messaging alert system which many Universities implemented after the Virginia Tech tragedy. Thank goodness the Telegraph hasn’t been “cleansed” and thank goodness they’re calling LSU out. Read the shitty, callous message for yourself, below.
“The tragic homicides that took place on campus on Thursday evening provided an opportunity for the university to test its new emergency text-message system. Thanks to feedback from members of the LSU community, university officials learned that not everyone who had registered their cellphones with the system received a message.
“The university is now investigating the problem with clearTXT, which is the text-message service provider, and is working to fix this problem rapidly. LSU will provide moreinformation when the problem is resolved.â€
Investigate where your tact and decency went, while you’re at it.
::
UPDATE #1– The bloggers (who, like the victims, came here for grad school as well) at UberDesi have their gumshoes on– they’re on the trail of the “missing quote”, you know, the one about how this was an opportunity?
…the student newspaper of LSU has been inundated with complaints. The particular story is no longer on the front page of the student news paper and digging for half an hour, proved useless. All we managed to unearth from our history was the story with partial comments.
Hoping that I could get the LSU Reville to cough up more information on why they had “broken†their commenting system on one particular news story I called the Editor In Chief Mr. Justin Fritscher, only for someone else to answer the phone. “Yes our system is broken and we are trying to fix it, we are not sure about when and if the comments will be back†(paraphrased) was the answer. [UD]
UPDATE #2–
sreechettan over at SAJAForum points us here, where
we discover that it might not have been random:
LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said…the men “appeared to be targeted for reasons unknown.â€
“This does not appear to be a random event,†O’Keefe said. [2advocate]
Developing… 🙁
what a horrible senseless act. I am deeply sorry for the families of Kiran and Chandrasekhar.
it’s below the surface but it does come through. international indian students are a sub-human rendering on the urban landscape – a caricature, but never quite one of Us.
for those who’ll come later lamenting the oversensitiveness of the blogger and this response, the referenced statement is a poor choice of words. a better choice of words was warranted. if this was the official statement, that official needs to be taken to task. if it was some geek with a bad moment, i hope he gets a tongue lashing from her/his boss.
This is unimaginably tragic. The Yahoo news piece says authorities are not able to tell if the shootings were random or targeted. Has there been any update since?
I can’t imagine what the families and community must be going through. My thoughts are with them during a most trying time.
Anna,
First thanks for posting the article. I had read it this morning and sent it out to various groups I am connected with. It is good that Sepia had it up within the 24 hour period. My heart goes out to the wife, and the families, as well as the community out in LA. The minimal details that are available provide more conjecture and frustration than information.
The concerns you brought up about not only callousness, but also the loss of information as a story is tracked throughout the day is incredibly important as well.
Awful. Profound sympathies to the families. I’m no crime expert, but the facts here don’t strike me as obviously being a random break-in. Not the MO of your average robbers. But, who knows….time will tell.
One of victim’s wife was pregnant. So it is going to be horrible for both the mother and kid when it is born.
Sigh! To come half way around the world to do a PhD and to be murdered by uneducated local scum.
Find peace, brothers.
Another Indian killed in a home invasion robbery in Los Angeles suburb of Diamond Bar, which has a large Indian population.
http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/1599/
Looks like his Mercedes was taken in the robbery as well. His wife also found him dead here. Seems like these home invasion robberies are on the rise, or at least more commonly reported right now. Sean Taylor, the LSU people, this man, we’ve had a few others out here in California. I thought this was a thing of the 1990’s more than today.
Because they couldn’t have tested the system with a mock drill or anything.
What a callous response to a devastating event.
it may be prudent to not jump to any conclusions.
Als, in context of the person with the unfortunate turn of phrase – before ascribing racial animus (as I did earlier and apologize now for doing so) it may be best to hold off. it may yet be an international student with a poor command over english working on the notification system deployment*. He still deserves a tonguelashing though.
*where i went to school, there were all kinds of research assistantships available in different departments who needed technical work done for cheap in return for tuition fee waivers (i got through grad school like that :-/). it’s all hypothesis, but better to be prudent.
The online article at Deccan Herald.com mentions that Allam’s father is a famous Telugu author.
In the bay area there used to be a gang that robbed desi homes for gold/jewelry and valuables. But student housing seems like an unlikely target.
Not the first time the LSU area has had shocking homicides in recent years. Though this present case seems like a robbery rather than a serial killing.
But student housing seems like an unlikely target.
First, as a LSU alum, my heartfelt condolences.
Now to the point, a lot of American Universities are adjacent violent neighborhoods of high crime (these neighborhoods happen to be extremely poor too). Examples: parts of… LSU, Columbia University, Wright State, University of Chicago.
Parts of LSU are next to an urbanized ghetto areas, and Edward Gay apartment complex happens to be in that area. One of the LSU graduate student housing is Edward Gay apartment complex, and often new international graduate students use that option. Baton Rouge as a whole has pockets of very crime incidences.
So nothing can be said of the motive. Probably, some sort of robbery to buy drugs, I would guess.
But it is quite tragic.
My heart goes out to the family. Here is a support fund set up for their family : http://appl003.lsu.edu/unv002.nsf/9faf000d8eb58d4986256abe00720a51/968cc4435caa329b862573b1007c1456?OpenDocument
a lot of American Universities are adjacent to violent neighborhoods
so were the killers white or black? or does it not matter ?
O’Keefe is the former head of NASA by the way.
11, 12:
The strange thing is, this doesn’t look like a robbery–report above says nothing taken; and most robbers don’t go out of their way to kill.
I think Columbia has improved significantly (though this will be disputed by the “gentrification is evil” set) over the past decade. A Senegalese PhD student at the University of Chicago was recently killed in a robbery murder.
My condolences to the parents of of Komma and Allam
The strange thing is, this doesn’t look like a robbery–report above says nothing taken; and most robbers don’t go out of their way to kill.
Unless high on drugs, not finding enough money, or pissed off for some reason (people who broke in felt threatened at some point, upset on not finding enough cash for their heist, or just upset at damn phoreners or their girl friends (boy friends) had made them in foul mood earlier in the day).
Moral: There are no cardinal rules for evolution of robbery. I cannot (or anyone) can say anything with the news available. However, that area of Baton Rouge is very shadey, and it is quite sad for these students, and their families.
I can bet my very dear wife’s behind that this is yet another Black on South Asian hate crime.
First of all, my condolences to the families of Komma and Allam. May the men rest in peace.
That really pisses me off. A tragedy is not supposed to be a time to test an emergency system.
I also think that if these were white students who were murdered, it would definitely be a top story.
You may have to kiss your dear wife’s behind goodbye if you make that bet. Too many people are jumping to the conclusion that this was a bunch of black crackheads looking for drug money. As if grad students from India are loaded with cash. These guys were targeted and shot once each in the head. Nothing was stolen. Looks like a hit job.
Its quite possible that the KKK or neo-nazis are behind this. Louisiana almost elected the klansman and neo-nazi David Duke Governor a while back and now has an indian governor-elect, Bobby Jindal. That surely must rub the white racists there the wrong way. The attack took place within blocks of Jindal’s headquarters apparently.
jhamu, I wouldnt jump to conclusion’s like that. Dont get that “OHHHH the blacks are coming to get us” attitude.
If it wasnt for black people then the Indian people in America either wouldnt be here or would be going to “colored only” schools and drinking from the “colored fountain”. If it was a black person, who did this then that individual is a piece of trash, not his whole race.
Guys, can we not jump to these conclusions yet? The investigation is on, we would be better served to comfort the families of the victims in what must surely be trying times.
it doesn’t matter how educated or what color the criminals were….this is plain tragic! i can’t believe some of the comments on here that are so focused on the idiots behind it.
i believe justice should be served indeed, but the person’s background doesn’t matter bc they are obviously disturbed. i mean whoever did this killed these guys execution style 🙁
also i think it is important to focus on the victims. losing these victims is a lot to us all it’s a loss to LA, to the US, to the Des and the world. more likely than not, these scholars would have gone on to make great contributions in their respective fields.
also i know many of us can relate to and empathize with the victims, because of our backgrounds or experiences with DBDs. i mean this just hits close to home. but let’s not forget that our country is way too violent— period. whether it’s large scale attacks like the recent mall shooting in NE or small scale, yet horrific attacks as here.
we need to really think about what we can do to make this world a safer place starting at home. it’s bad enough we are engaged in ‘war’ abroad but how can we protect civilians right here?
Doesn’t seem like KKK or neo-Nazis. Atleast that’s not the profile of the people the authorities are looking for. From the article linked in the post:
What a shameful, horrific event. My condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
(The posts #22 and #23 offer very realistic explanations and views. What a sad situation.)
Its quite possible that the KKK or neo-nazis are behind this. Louisiana almost elected the klansman and neo-nazi David Duke Governor a while back and now has an indian governor-elect, Bobby Jindal. That surely must rub the white racists there the wrong way. The attack took place within blocks of Jindal’s headquarters apparently.
First, this thread is about condolences, and balm to the grieved.
Second, do you (Robby) even know anything about the neighborhood or Baton Rouge where the killing happened.
True, LA and Baton Rouge has its own share of KKK and Neo-Nazis. Baton Rouge was in 60s, on the forefront, during civil rights movement, and segregated delis, and rest rooms.
However, that neighborhood next to Edward Gay Apartments is an area with African American dominated projects. FYI: A Klansman would get shot dead in 10 minutes there.
If you drive 10 minutes on that road, you hit downtown, and probably that is where Bobby Jindal’s transition team is situated (I am not sure but guessing).
NB: I do not wish to start a race baiting session here, but, speculation without knowledge of the area (like Klansman did it) is as useless as it comes.
What a tragic incident. My heart goes out to both the families.
Anna- Thanks for blogging about this news.
The title “DBD Nightmare” sounds a bit odd.
Bobby Jindal’s transition team is situated in one of the buildings of LSU campus, quite close to “Death Valley” football stadium. Their are situated in:
Kirby Smith Hall, LSU Campus Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Practically, across the football stadium is David Gray Apartments, and across the David Gray Apartments is also the railways tracks, and houses with “garrison” windows, unrentable houses. Railways tracks has been a “divide” in American towns and cities for centuries.
If something can come of out of this tragedy, is that, new international students should make inquiries about the safety of the region before they pick a place to live. Also, Universities should not only provide the crime statistics of the campus (which by law they are supposed to, and they do now) but also of the city. In that way, a young student – be it American, International can make informed decisions.
Terrible tragedy. The dead bodies will probably be flown back to India. I can only imagine the scenes at the Airport. I wont be surprised if this was a robbery gone bad. I am a big propoent of the felony murder rule where if you accidently or inadvertently end up killing someone while committing violent felonies like robbery, you are charged with murder.
Sometimes I wish the assailants are made to observe and live with the family and see their grief, the burial and all that is destroyed. In India, a lot of Muslims engage in this rather self flagellating way of burying the dead where the dead is placed on a cot on the way to the cemetary and the cot is supported on the shoulders of family and friends. Its called ‘kandha dena’ (giving shoulder) I dont know if the Hindus do that or not.
not being up on all the desi slang what does DBDs stand for?
Desh Born Desi.
In India, a lot of Muslims engage in this rather self flagellating way of burying the dead where the dead is placed on a cot on the way to the cemetary and the cot is supported on the shoulders of family and friends. Its called ‘kandha dena’ (giving shoulder) I dont know if the Hindus do that or not.
Hindus do the exactly same with long procession, sometimes from home to cremation site, with a chant “Ram Naam Satya Hai” (The name of Rama is the truth).
For the matter, even the Christians do the same, but just a shorter walk with shouldering (or pall bearer as they call it).
For the matter, even the Christians do the same, but just a shorter walk with shouldering (or pall bearer as they call it).
I think burials in the US are more formal and organized with less involvement of the family.
Tragic. Hope they catch them. In India the dead body is kept at home for at least 24 hours prior to creamation/burial. Is there a law preventing this is here?
In India the dead body is kept at home for at least 24 hours prior to creamation/burial. Is there a law preventing this is here?
Depends on the state. For example, keeping the body for 24 hours at home might not be possible in cases where the person dies from a communicable disease and in such cases, in most states, he must be buried or cremated within 24 hours.
how tragic and terrible. my heart goes out to the families, especially the wife and unborn baby =(
It’s a very sad story. Hope they catch the perpetrators.
Btw, the TOI has done very little original reporting and doesn’t deserve to be linked to. The only thing they “zeroed in on” was a way to steal a few paragraphs from the Times-Picayune article.
yeah, the problem with this country is that too many jobless kallus and too many stupid goras, ready to kill at a moment’s notice. Brown life is not of much value for these.
Anyway – typically news like this invites several types of desi comments:
‘oooh such a tragedy.. my heart goes out.. sooo saaadddd.. sob sniff boo hoo..’ (these typically come from the ones who write ‘kudos’ and ‘hats off’ in good news comments ).
‘ some idiotic kallu/gora did this. oh please note that I am against only that particular kallu/gora. I do not want to be seen as a racist. Please note that. pray that this statement does not affect my greencard application. or will it? should I delete this post? but how?’
‘ let’s not jump to conclusions. the killer could have been anyone. It could even have been another desi. Afterall, we desis are bigtime racists. desis are bad. look at that nasty country my parents escaped from. riots, killings.. How can you ever say that usa is bad and americans are bad just because some americans kill you desis? I am sure it was another desi. My american boy/girl friend says americans are such caring people. see how they say ‘how you doing’ whever they see you in the street? So stop ascribing racist animus. Did you notice my vocabulary? oh america america..’.
Only one thing missing – some real feeling of loss or anger.
Meanwhile ToI reports that:
The Indian government has rushed two consular officials to Baton Rouge to render all possible assistance to local authorities and Indian students stunned by the murder of two doctoral scholars from Andhra Pradesh on the Louisiana State University Campus.
KB Pillai from the Indian Consulate-General in Houston reached Baton Rouge on Friday evening and Alok Pandey from the Indian Embassy in Washington was expected there on Saturday morning as Indian students across US mourned the brutal execution-style slaying of the two students.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_officials_leave_for_Louisiana_varsity/articleshow/2623940.cms
Wow. Stay classy, #40… Why is that whenever a story like this breaks SM turns into a photo-negative version of the Freep or Little Green Footballs for a night?
Holy crap. I was born and raised in that complex when my dad was getting his masters from LSU…
yup, the value of desi life to an amru..
LSU’s view, I guess, goes like this:
‘two of those brown things who complicated work for little pay and stay over in some cinderblock dwellings where those types stay appear to have been shot. Oh well, gotta do an investigation now since it’s the law.., and more importantly find some replacements for the prof whose work those two were doing. No problem, plenty where the came from.
oh oh its a great chance to test out that cellphone response thingie we have been putting together. someone get on it. if the test fails, we might have to wait till another of those dies like this’.
Wonder if they would ahve been so callous if a gora/gori had been killed?
Where are the crying students? where are the candle light vigils? Where are the shows of support? looks like the life of a desi grad student is worth nothing to anyone.
and thank you the mutineer who posted this, for clarifying that these are two ‘DBD’s.
May I ask – why the distinction, when an ‘indian grad student’ would have been enough? Is it so that the ABCDs/ABDs can mourn a little less or not at all? ‘not one of ours, just a DBD. move on’, is it?
AnotherDesi, the DBD is harmless dscriptive term. If anythjing, it makes one sadder for these students bevcause their parents have to wonder a country away what is going on with the case.
As far as the attitude of cops towards crimes on browns, I have noticed on more than one occasion where the cops seem totally indifferent to the plight of some Indian victims.
another desi: you hit the nail on the head. DBD crime – Report it and move on.
Thats how the media is also treating this case. Doesnt matter that the Columbia “noose” incident and the Delaware 2 am shooting got more media coverage than this one. None of the evening news program even mentioned it.
Surprised/Another Desi, based on your behavior here and on previous threads, we can see a pattern of ignorance and assumptions. Your tendency to switch handles on the same thread is dishonest and a desperate way to fake support for your “side”. We ban for this sort of “gaming”.
DBD isn’t a term of disrespect.
DBD is specific. In a country where all of us, whether born here or not are often considered “outsiders”, using the purportedly superior “Indian Grad Student” could mean someone who risked plenty to bravely come here in pursuit of something worthwhile…or the children of said someones. It’s short-hand for members of the 1st generation.
Instead of looking for insult where there isn’t any, ask yourself why your comments on other threads were roundly condemned. There is nothing but sorrow here, from people who see in these victims either themselves or their parents.
You are talking irrational nonsense as always, Kush. As if klansmen go around wearing white sheets all the time.
Can’t imagine what that pregnant wife must have gone thru. Wonder if Bobby Jindal would do anything abt the safety of students, not just Indians but any international student who, due to lack to funds ( and hence no car), has to live near the school even if its in a bad area. Here in Los Angeles, USC is in a very bad area too. Its smack in the middle of downtown LA and just recently had a terrible incident of a attack on a girl.