Mamata writes to Sushma over US killings

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the "recent incidents of attacks and unfortunate deaths of young Indians in the US".

The Trinamool Congress supremo urged Sushma Swaraj to take the matter up with the highest US authorities to prevent recurrences of such incidents.

The Trinamool also held demonstration in front of the Bengal legislative assembly during the day and demanded from Prime Minister Narendra Modi an explaining over the Centre's response to the killings.

"Today (Monday), I have addressed a letter on the recent incidents of attacks and unfortunate deaths of young Indians in the US. It is indeed a matter of great concern and my heart goes out to share the sufferings that have come upon their family members," Banerjee said in a Facebook post.

Banerjee on Sunday condemned the killing of two Indians in the US and urged New Delhi to take up the matter with Washington.

"Since the number of Indians studying, working, living in the US is very large, such incidents are causing a situation of panic amongst their family members living in India. I have requested the union minister to kindly see that the matter is taken up at the highest level, so that these types of incidents do not recur and the Indians living in the US feel safe, secure and worry-free," she said.

On Thursday night, Indian-origin businessman Harnish Patel was shot dead outside his home at Lancaster in South Carolina.

The incident happened after Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead at a bar in Kansas city on February 22.