`Mingle with locals, don't flaunt your wealth`: Advice for Telugus in US after Srinivas Kuchibhotla's killing

Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was injured when US Navy veteran Adam W Purinton fired at them at the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe.

Hyderabad: In the wake of the killing of an Indian techie during a shooting at a Kansas bar, Telugus in the United States of America have been advised on how to stay safe.

The advice ranges from urging Indians not to show off their wealth and drawing attention to their earnings to start mingling with locals.

As per The Times of India, the Telangana America Telugu Association (TATA) met in Washington on February 27 to discuss a number of issues of concern to Telugus.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was injured when US Navy veteran Adam W Purinton fired at them at the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe on February 22.

Purinton reportedly got into an argument with the two and hurled racial slurs.

He yelled "get out of my country" before shooting them.

In the aftermath of the killing of Kuchibhotla, the TATA opined that Telugus should take necessary precautions, said the daily.

Talking to the TOI, TATA president Jhansi Reddy said: "We know there is a lot of fright in Hyderabad, or for that matter in India, after the Olathe incident but people here are not so worried. There have been a couple of incidents in which two Indians (both from Telangana) were shot dead but we are hopeful things will settle down.”

Reddy underlined that Telugus (or Indians) should mingle and socialise with Americans. "Being aloof can create suspicion in anybody's mind. We have to free ourselves from the mentality of keeping with our own flock," she said.

With US President Donald Trump condemning the fatal shooting in Kansas, the Indian government on Wednesday said that it will closely engage with authorities of other countries wherever the safety of Indians is concerned.