TANA Team Square deeply regrets to inform that Arun Kumar Narote, 26 yrs, M.S student at Stratford University, VA was shot dead on July 12th at a grocery store in Bridgeport, CT. Arun Kumar a native of Hyderabad joined M.S (Software Engineering) in Stratford University of Virginia, after graduating from Indra Reddy Memorial Engineering College in Hyderabad. Arun was about to graduate in couple of months. The remains of Mr. Narote have reached in India on the early hours of Monday, July 19, 2010.

As per preliminary police reports, on Monday, July 12th around 9:30 PM, two masked men walked in to “Norman Grocery Store” in Bridgeport, CT where Arun Kumar was at that time, robbed the cash and shot him in the head, though there was no resistance found. Police have since arrested 3 people in connection to the students after witnesses reported them bragging about the shooting. http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Police-said-three-bragged-of-killing-grocery-clerk-579671.php

Arun Kumar is survived by parents Dhondiba Rao ( a retired Teacher), mother Sakhuntala and elder brothers Avinash, Amar and elder sister. The whole family of Arun Kumar who live in Karwan area in Hyderabad was in deep shock after hearing this sad news, called Prasad Thotakura, TANA Executive Vice President and requested TANA to help send the body to Hyderabad as soon as possible. The President of Stratford University Dr. Richard Shurtz and Vice President Mr. Feroze Khan have expressed deep shock and sympathy and have agreed to bear expenses towards the transportation of the body to India. Stratford University will also hold a memorial this week in honor of Mr. Narote at its Falls Church campus among his friends and faculty. Mohan Nannapaneni, TANA Secretary, Rao Yalamanchili, President of Telugu Association of Connecticut, Revanth, Karthik friends of Arun Kumar and many other TANA Team Square volunteers are helping in this case. ” We can understand the financial stress that these students face to support their education and living expenses but certainly these types of places to be avoided and shouldn’t put their lives at risk” said Prasad Thotakura, who is working with the Cambridge Police Department, Indian Consulate Office and Funeral Home to expedite the process. Jayaram Komati, TANA President expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of TANA to Arun Kumar’s family and appreciated TANA Team Square volunteers for their immediate action in helping Arun’s family.