HYDERABAD: Srinvas Kuchibhotla, the Telugu techie who was shot dead in an alleged hate crime by a US Navy veteran in a Kansas bar on February 22, was bid a tearful farewell by family and friends who had gathered in large numbers on Tuesday afternoon at Vaikunta Mahaprasthanam Crematorium, Jubilee hills.
An aggrieved father K Madhusudhana Sastry performed the last rites of his 32-year-old son. The body was brought to Kuchibhotla’s house in Bachupally on Monday night. His wife Sunayana Dumala, who arrived with the mortal remains on Monday night, broke down as she glimpsed her husband for the last time.
Mourners poured in at his residence through the night and Tuesday morning to pay their last respects. Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, educationist Chukka Ramaiah, MLC Yadava Reddy, consoled the family members.
Actor couple Jeevitha and Rajasekhar paid their respects as well. Hyderabad’s Regional Passport Officer and head of Ministry of External Affairs Branch Secretariat-Hyderabad, E Vishnu Vardhan Reddy was present at the crematorium to pay homage to Srinivas.
“Parents spend Rs 20-30 lakhs on education there. When someone spends that kind of money and if life is at risk, why go there?,” said Sambhu Prasad.
Anti-Trump protests at the funeral
At the funeral, members of Forum of IT Professionals held papers with slogans like ‘Down with Trump’.
A member of the Forum, Praveen Chandrahas said: “This is culmination of hate instigated by Trump during election campaign. We urge Indian and US govts to provide security to India diaspora in US.”