Disturbing Pattern: Fourth Incident This Year Raises Alarms for Indian Students in the United States

New York, 2nd February 2024: The recent death of 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, an Indian-origin student with American citizenship, at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio, adds to a string of fatal incidents involving Indian students in the United States. This marks the fourth such incident this year and the third within a week, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of Indian students studying abroad.

Authorities have ruled out foul play or any indication of a hate crime in Shreyas Reddy Beniger’s case. The Indian Mission in New York is actively investigating the cause of his death, and the Consulate has expressed condolences, providing necessary assistance to the family.

This tragedy follows recent cases, including Neel Acharya, a Purdue University student found dead on campus, Vivek Saini, an MBA student in Georgia who lost his life due to a violent attack, and Akul Dhawan, discovered deceased outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These incidents highlight a concerning trend among Indian students in the US, prompting a closer examination of mental health support and campus safety measures.

With over 300,000 Indian students in the US and a notable increase in visas issued recently, experts attribute these incidents to factors like mental stress, loneliness, and exposure to substance abuse.