Dallas, TX:  Sudhir Rudraraju’s body sent to his parents in Hyderabad on Lufthansa from Atlanta and expected to reach early hours of Thursday, Feb 12, 2009. Sudhir Rudraraju, a young Mechanical Engineer, shot to death in Mill Burn city, suburbs of Atlanta city in Georgia State.Jayaram Komati, TANA President, Jithender Reddy, ATA President, Prasad Thotakura, TANA Secretary, Mohan Nannapaneni, TANA Treasurer and Satyanarayana Reddy Tangirala, President of TAMA (Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta) issued this following joint statement.

“It is very unfortunate to lose a young professional this way.  We express our deepest condolences to the family of Sudhir Rudraraju. A team of volunteers worked very hard on logistics to complete the paper work and the formalities to send the body to Hyderabad from Atlanta.  TANA, ATA and local Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA) raised funds to send the body to India. We thank Consul General of India, Houston and scores of volunteers who helped as a team to send the body to India”. Sudhir hails from Gudimula village in East Godavari dist. After completing B. Tech in Bangalore, he completed MS in 2001-2003.  He joined Toyota Automotive Group in 2004 as a Mechanical Engineer.

Sudhir’s cause of death is still unknown is under investigation.  As per reliable sources, he might have been shot to death in his home on Sunday, Feb 1st, 2009 (Super Bowl game night).  Sudhir’s friends called him on his cell phone to know whether Sudhir can join them Monday evening to play Racquet Ball.  They tried three different times including Monday night 10:00 PM and there was no answer. Tuesday morning, his friends called his work place Toyota Automotive Group to see whether he was there and came to know that he didn’t show up to work either Monday or Tuesday.  Then friends went to Sudhir’s home and to their surprise they found his car outside his home and they then called police.  When Police opened the door, they found Sudhir in a pool of blood.  Police are investigating the case and waiting for Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. The whole Atlanta community is in shock to know about the incident.

“It is very alarming to know most of the people so far died in these kinds of incidents are of Telugu origin. Though, there is no known specific reason or target for this, we request everyone to be vigilant and safe. On behalf of TANA, we are arranging orientation meetings to Indian American Students on “Safety and Security” issues in various University campuses across USA. We are inviting local City Mayors, City Police Department, University Campus Security Department and Students and Faculty to attend these meetings to discuss and take all necessary precautions to be safe in and around University campuses. The first of its kind session will be held at University of North Texas, Denton at the end of this month”. Prasad Thotakura, TANA Secretary said.