Rep Krishnamoorthi urges Seattle Police investigation into death of Jhaanvi with the seriousness it demands

On Thursday, Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi requested Seattle Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the untimely murder of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula. Krishnamoorthi responded to a video of a Seattle police officer laughing about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student killed by a police car travelling at 74 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone. “The recording of a Seattle Police officer making light of her death and questioning the value of her life is disgusting and unacceptable. I urge the Seattle Police Department to pursue its investigation into this matter with the seriousness it demands,” Krishnamoorthi said. Jaahnavi, a youth student at Washington’s Northeastern University was struck at a pedestrian crossing on the night of 23 January 2023. In the video, Daniel Auderer, who is captured on body camera while discussing the fatal collision, can be heard saying, “Yeah, just write a check. $11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.” The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) called on all relevant authorities to prioritise inquiry, community participation, and respect for the rights and dignity of all persons, victims, and the community in pain and loss in a unanimous resolution.

Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling. We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC

— India in SF (@CGISFO) September 13, 2023

NFIA commended India’s Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, for pushing the issue at the highest level in Washington. In a statement, Indian American Impact said it was outraged to watch the horrific film of a Seattle police officer dismissing the killing of an Indian lady by another cop, stating her life had no worth. We hope the officer is held accountable and Jaahnavi Kandula’s family receives justice, it said. Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal strongly condemned the incident. “Jaahnavi Kandula was killed by a speeding police car. Then, police officers joked about her death and devalued her life. I’m sick to my stomach. This is exactly what happens when we normalise xenophobia and racism. It needs to stop,” she said. Axios reported that public outrage is mounting after a Seattle police officer was recorded on camera laughing and saying that a pedestrian struck and killed by another officer in January had “limited value”. According to Axios, a coalition that includes family members of people killed by police released statements Wednesday objecting to Auderer’s comments. “It’s no joke when police reveal their true feelings of contempt for the people they are sworn to protect,” Annalisa Thomas, whose son was killed by Lakewood police in 2013, said in a news release, the news site reported.