Another Indian shot dead in Washington state

Vikram Jaryal worked in a convenience store and had reached US just 25 days ago.

Another Indian national was killed in the United State on Thursday. Vikram Jaryal, 26, worked at a convenience store of a gas station in Yakima, Washington, died at a hospital from gun wounds. According to local police, two masked gunmen robbed Jaryal, who worked as a clerk in the convenience store of his family friend. Though Jaryal handed over the money, one of the attackers shot Jaryal in the chest before fleeing the site.

Jaryal, who was from Hoshiarpur in Punjab,  was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The police have procured the CCTV footage to investigate the incident.

“Somebody knows something. Somebody knows these people. The still photos show a very recognizable top that one of the suspects is wearing,” Mike Bastinelli of the Yakima Police Department said. “The shooter wore a black hoodie with patches of white on the back.”

“The victim was able to tell officers what happened when they arrived a few minutes later; but tragically, he died a short time later at the hospital,” police told the NBC Right Now.

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted early morning on Saturday, “I have received a report on the shootout incident resulting in the tragic death of Indian national Vikram Jaryal in Washington State USA./1”

I have received a report on the shootout incident resulting in the tragic death of Indian national Vikram Jaryal in Washington State USA./1

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 8, 2017

Swaraj has offered all help to the family of the deceased. Responding to the tweet of the victim’s brother, Swaraj tweeted, “My heartfelt condolences on your brother’s tragic death. I am asking @IndianEmbassyUS to provide all help and assistance.”

My heartfelt condolences on your brother's tragic death. I am asking @IndianEmbassyUS to provide all help and assistance. https://t.co/e30cHGYEJE

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 7, 2017

The minister tweeted that the Indian consulate in San Francisco is helping the family and is in regular contact with the police authorities in America.

Our consulate in San Francisco is helping the family and following this up with the Police authorities. /5

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 8, 2017

This incident adds to the recent spike in crime against immigrants in the US. In the last couple of months several incidents of hate crime have been reported in the country. President Trump haas proposed several changes related to the status of immigrants, and some suspect that the rise in hate crime and xenophobia might have genesis in current administration’s handling of immigrant related issues.