Express News Service
WARANGAL: A phone call from Mamidala Vamsi Chander Reddy's friend Praveen from California around 4.30 am on Sunday came as a shock to M Sanjeeva Reddy and his family. Though he was not ready to believe that he had lost his son, the loss was clearly visible on his face.
His greatest fear was how he would break the news to his wife Rama. Finally, with the help of some relatives he broke the news. Rama soon went into a depression. "We had lot of hopes from him. With great difficulty we got him educated till MS. I spoke to him two days ago and he told me that he was trying to get a good job. I asked him to come back to India, if he is unable to find suitable job. All our dreams has been shattered," Reddy said.
In fact, the family was planning to get him married this year. "We were about to look for a suitable bride for him. His mother and sister had a lot of plans for his marriage. Everything has been lost. Our life will not be the same anymore, " he said.
Vamsi's mother Rama blamed the US government for her son's death. "We were planning to accord a grand welcome to him on his return from US. Now, we have to receive his body," she cried.
G Srinivas Reddy, who was Vamsi's roommate while he was doing his B.tech in Hyderabad said that this was a case of hate crime. "Its unbelievable that a soft spoken person like Vamsi has been killed so brutally. He used to stay away from trouble and violence. I have never seen him speaking loudly. Its a great personal loss to me," Srinivas Reddy said.
He added that he was worried when US President Donald Trump announced his anti-outsider campaign, but he never thought that his friend Vamsi would become one of the earliest victims.
"Five days ago we chatted for about half an hour and he was very happy that he had completed his MS successfully. He was very ambitious and was looking for a good break. He even announed his return to India," he added.
Vamsi's cousin M Sudhakar, who grew up with him, was speechless and was seen standing silently along with his other cousins and friends. "As soon as I heard the new through television that Vamsi is missing I rushed to his house. When I saw the atmosphere of the house I understood that we have lost him. He was slightly elder to me but we were good friends. He was good in studies and was good natured and helpful," he recalled.
In fact, Vamsi inspired lot of his cousins and friends, including Sudhakar to go to US for higher studies. "This incident has shattered me. Now, I don't know if I should go the US," he said.
Vamsi's uncle, Raghupathi Reddy, who was waiting for Vamsi to return from US to get him married, is worried about the future of his family. "He was very good looking and wanted to try his luck in Tollywood. But since he belongs to a lower middle class family he wanted to become financially secure before following his passion," he said.
Oasis Public School, Warangal, where Vamsi did his schooling, chairman JS Paranjyothi, who is helping the family with his contacts in US, remembered Vamsi as a very bright and shy child. "We never had any complaint with him. He was in touch with the school even after he joined college," he said.
Accused was a car thief, says local newspaper
A local newspaper, Bay City News, did not name the victim but said the accused was a car thief. Quoting local police officer, Raj Maharaj, the newspaper said the police reached the spot when they got a call about a woman being robbed. Within minutes, they heard a gun shot and found the victim in the parking structure. The victim died instantly.
