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Hindu activist shot dead in US park
News of young Akhil Chopra's murder at a Houston park has shocked the Indian community, reports Lalit K Jha.
A young Hindu activist and a computer professional was shot dead at point-blank range in a broad daylight robbery attempt in a park in Houston in Texas, police said.
News of the gruesome murder of Akhil Chopra, 28, has shocked the Indian community in Houston. From Ahmedabad, Akhil, was working in a Houston-based company -- Star Pipe Products -– for past three years. His parents have been intimated about the tragic incident.
Houston Police has announced an award of $5,000 to anyone providing clues leading to the arrest of the assailants. The police said preliminary investigations indicated robbery was the prime motive behind the murder as his wallet was missing.
Though the police has ruled out any hate-crime, it is probably one of the rare incidents, when an Indian has been shot dead in Houston in such a tragic fashion.
Investigator Robert Torris, from Houston Police Department's Homicide Division, who is in-charge of investigations told HindustanTimes.com: "Akhil was shot dead at 4025, Elridge Parkway between 12.45 pm and 1.50 pm on Thursday. There is one gunshot wound in his head."
An active member of the various rightist Hindu organisations -- Hindu Students Council, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, India Development and Relief Fund, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America -– Akhil had gone to the park to meditate after having lunch at his nearby office.
Akhil was apparently shot at point-blank range while he was meditating, police said.
Torris said Akhil's body has been handed over to his friends and relatives after autopsy by the Harris County Medical Examiner. Vijay Pallod, a close friend, said the body would be flown to India for last rites as wished by his parents.
Expressing shock over the incident, Ramesh Bhutada, president of the Star Pipe Products said, he can't believe that someone can kill for a wallet. "This is gruesome," he said. His company made a contribution of $20,000 for Akhil Chopra Memorial Fund set up by his friends.
He was well-known in the Houston Indian community more for the weekly Hindi news bulletin he had introduced for over a year now on a local radio. "We eagerly waited for his Sunday news," said Priyank Jaiswal, a friend. More than 400 people attended a prayer meeting held at Houston in his memory on Sunday.
Akhil's cousin in New Jersey, Pooja Malhotra, said: "I am shocked. We can't believe a day-time murder could happen in America. That too in a park."
Akhil was a key media coordinator of the Global Dharma Conference 2003, held in New Jersey. He was playing a lead role in organising Houston Janmashtami festival this month, Pallod said.
