A 26-year-old Indian student named Ravi Teja, from RK Puram Green Hills Colony in Hyderabad, was shot dead in Washington DC, reports said on Monday. He was killed at a gas station after attackers opened fire on him.

In March 2022, he relocated to the United States to pursue a master's degree. "After successfully completing his studies, he had been actively searching for a job," according to one report. The exact details of the reported shooting are still unclear, the incident has deeply shocked Ravi Teja’s family. The Association of Indian Students in North America, meanwhile, said on X, "Hours before the inauguration, Ravi Teja, a 26-year-old student from Hyderabad, India, was tragically shot and killed in Washington, DC. He had moved to the US in 2022 to pursue his MBA. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation." 

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which is backed by the Congress, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for its "failure to ensure the safety of Indian students overseas." "Why is the Ministry of External Affairs silent? What action has been taken to safeguard Indian students abroad?," the NSUI posted on X. “Under [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s leadership, the dreams of Indian students are turning into nightmares. The government’s apathy continues to endanger those who leave their homeland for better education and opportunities. NSUI demands answers and action to protect our students studying abroad,” it added. 

In December of last year, the body of a 22-year-old woman of Indian origin, Santra Saju, was found in the water near Newbridge. Prior to this, there were reports about the murder of three Indian students in Canada. At that time, India called for a detailed investigation into the deaths of the three Indians. In March 2024, Indian student Abhijeeth Paruchuru was reportedly murdered in Boston, United States. His body was discovered in a car, deep inside a forest, according to a report by the Times of India. Abhijeeth, a resident of Burripalem in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, was studying engineering at Boston University.