 "Who was Amarnath Ghosh, the Indian classical dancer shot dead in the US?")
In yet another case of the killing of an Indian in the United States, a classical dancer has been shot dead in Missouri’s Saint Louis.
The news was shared by Amarnath Ghosh’s friend and TV actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee on X on Friday, claiming that he was shot multiple times during an evening walk.
While stating that the victim’s friends are unable to claim his body, Bhattacharjee asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and the Indian Embassy in the US to obtain information regarding the motives behind the victim’s murder.
Here’s all we know about the victim and the shocking killing.
About Amarnath Ghosh
Ghosh was a professional Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer.
He was attending Washington University in St. Louis to pursue his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in dance. As per his profile on the university website, he conducted research on the writings of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Ghosh, a master of four dance forms (Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, and Kathak), attended Chennai’s Kuchipudi Art Academy and Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts.
He was raised in Kolkata, where he learnt the Shantiniketan style of Rabindra Nrita and Rabindra Sangeet.
“He seeks to bring the richness of Tagore poetry down south and inspire young adults and children on the strength of the beautiful evocative poetry of Tagore,” his website, amarnathendra.com read.
He had training from Padma Sri Adyar K Lakshman, Bobita Dey Sarkar, and Sri MV Narasimhachari, according to NDTV.
He received Nritya Kanak Mani Saman from the International Dance and Music Festival in New Delhi as well as a National Scholarship for Kuchipudi from the International Cultural Ministry in New Delhi.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAdditionally, Ghosh has presented lecture demonstrations and art appreciation workshops in several locations throughout India and the world, as per Times Now.
Mumbai-based actor Bhattacharjee stated in her post that Ghosh was the only child in the family. His mother passed away three years ago, while the victim lost his father in his childhood.
The killing
Bhattacharjee, in a post on X said, “My friend Amarnath Ghosh was shot and killed in St Louis academy neighbourhood, US on Tuesday evening. (…) Well the reason, the accused details, everything are not revealed yet or perhaps no one left in his family to fight for it except his few friends.”
“He was from Kolkata. Excellent dancer, was pursuing PHD, was taking an evening walk and suddenly he was shot multiple times by an unknown (person). Some friends in the US are trying claim the body but still no update about it (sic).”
My friend #Amarnathghosh was shot & killed in St louis academy neigbourhood, US on tuesday evening.
— Devoleena Bhattacharjee (@Devoleena_23) March 1, 2024
Only child in the family, mother died 3 years back. Father passed away during his childhood.
Well the reason , accused details everything are not revealed yet or perhaps no one…
She further tagged PM Modi, EAM Dr Jaishankar and the US Embassy.
According to The Times of India, the victim’s uncle Shyamal Ghosh, who stays in Suri, said, “We received a call about his death from my sister in New Delhi. We do not know the circumstances leading to the death. I have gone to Suri police station to seek more information. He has a home here.”
Srimayi Vempati, a Kuchipudi dancer and Ghosh’s teacher, said she received a call on Wednesday from several of his classmates informing her that Ghosh was missing.
The students went to the police after 24 hours, and were later told of his death.
Sanatanu Dutta, a cinematographer from Kolkata who also claims to be Ghosh’s neighbour in Suri, reported that he had a WhatsApp conversation with Gosh on Tuesday.
“Not once did he mention that there was any threat. On Thursday morning, I got a call from his partner, Praveen Paul. He told me that a mobile and wallet were found beside the body. The fingerprints had matched with Dada’s,” Dutta said.
Suri councillor Suprana Ray said, “We have told the administration to find out more details.”
A fundraiser has been launched to collect funds for Ghosh’s funeral.
He is our faculty in our Kuchipudi dance school.
— ravi (@ravikuppa) March 1, 2024
We are trying to see if we can claim body and do the arrangements.https://t.co/QhESUSNmdt
India’s response
In addition to expressing its sincere sympathies to Ghosh’s family and friends, the Office of the Consulate General of India in Chicago stated that it is “following up forensic, investigation with police & providing support.”
The Consulate General said that it is “extending all help to relatives, while adding, “Taken up the case strongly with St Louis police and the University for investigation of the reprehensible gun attack.”
Consulate is extending all help to relatives of deceased Amarnath Ghosh. Taken up the case strongly with St Louis police and the University for investigation of the reprehensible gun attack. @IndianEmbassyUS @MEAIndia
— India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) March 2, 2024
Deaths of Indian-origins in the US
Ghosh’s death is the latest in a series of deaths of Indians and Indian-origin people in the US.
More than half a dozen cases of Indian-origin individuals being killed on American soil have surfaced since the beginning of this year.
About a week ago, the news of a teenage Indian-origin student’s death garnered national attention.
Akul Dhawan , an Illinois University student, was frozen to death in January on West Nevada Street near a club that refused him entry.
On 20 February, a month after the incident, the Champaign County Coroner’s Office in Illinois revealed that the 18-year-old died of hypothermia following “acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, which significantly contributed to his death.”
His body was found on the back porch of a building near the university campus.
Before that, an Indian-origin family from Kerala was found dead at their home in California with the police investigating the case as a murder-suicide. Anand Henry, a 37-year-old former Meta software engineer, is suspected of killing his wife Alice Benziger, 36, and their four-year-old twin sons before turning a gun on himself.
Student Sameer Kamath from Purdue University was found dead in Warren County on 5 February. Neel Acharya who had been missing in the US was confirmed dead by the same university authorities last month.
The most horrific death was that of Vivek Saini . A resident of Haryana, he died after he was hammered 50 times in Georgia’s Lithonia on 16 January.
White House official John Kirby denounced attacks on Indian students last month and said that there is “no excuse for violence based on race, gender, or any other factor.”
“The president and this administration have been working very, very hard to make sure we’re doing everything we can to work with state and local authorities to try to thwart and disrupt those kinds of attacks and make it clear to anybody who might consider them that they’ll be held properly accountable,” Kirby said amid a slew of attacks on Indian and Indian American students in various parts of the US.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
