The reveal of fresh body-cam footage related to the death of Indian origin student Jaahnavi Kandula has sparked a huge row over the internet as well as in US politics. Jaahnavi was killed in January by a Seattle police officer driving at a speed of 74 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour speed limit zone.
The video footage released by Seattle police in connection with the incident has revealed a very ugly side of police in the USA.
The VP of police was heard laughing and making jokes about the incident. This has created an outrage in the community who feel disgusted at the reaction of policemen who are supposed to protect them.
An Indian-American congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi has raised the issue with the Seattle police demanding strict action. Jaahnavi was a student of Washington’s Northeastern University. She was only 23 at the time of the accident.
Police in America have been facing backlash for a long time for alleged inherent racism in the system. The insensitivity of the officer in this matter was shocking.
He could be heard putting a price on the girl’s life and even saying “she had limited value”. This has now become a political issue in the US and there’s a demand for accountability. The incident is not a matter of an individual crime but a systemic problem that rots the police system in the USA.
