Jaahnavi Kandula, the Indian student killed by a speeding police car in Seattle, will be awarded her degree posthumously, a statement from the Office of the Chancellor of the Northeastern University said.
Mourning her death, the statement said the campus remembered Jaahnavi’s tremendous engagement and sense of humor and infectious personality. "Her loss will be felt deeply by students, staff, and faculty. The university plans to award Jaahnavi her degree posthumously and present it to her family," it said.
"The callous and insensitive remarks by a Seattle police officer have become public, reopening wounds and deepening our collective heartbreak. We also recognise that our Indian student community—across all Northeastern campuses—has been especially impacted by this tragedy and its aftermath. We stand in solidarity with you and have every expectation that the ongoing investigations will bring a measure of justice and accountability," it added.
Jaahnavi, a youth student at Washington's Northeastern University was struck at a pedestrian crossing on the night of January 23, 2023. However, the bodycam footage of a police officer came out a few days ago in which Seattle police officer Daniel Auderer was heard discussing the fatal collision. He can be heard saying, "Yeah, just write a check. USD 11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value."
Meanwhile, the Indian American lawmakers have hit out at the Seattle Police in the incident and urged an investigation into the death of Jaahnavi.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said Jaahnavi's death was a horrible tragedy, and the scale of her loss should not be diminished or mocked by anyone. "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.
The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) also passed a resolution urging all relevant authorities to prioritise investigation, community engagement, and respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals, the victims and the community in suffering and grief. The statement said that it was appalled to see shocking footage of a Seattle police officer belittling the killing of an Indian woman by another police officer, saying her life had limited value.
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.