Jaishankar assures assistance to kin of Sikhs killed in US

WASHINGTON, DC: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that Government of India will provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims who were killed in a mass shooting in the US city of Indianapolis on Thursday. “Deeply shocked by the shooting incident at Fedex facility in Indianapolis. Victims include persons of Indian American Sikh community. Our Consulate (in Chicago)@indiainchicago is in touch with the Mayor and local authorities in Indianapolis as well as the community leaders,” he said in a tweet. “Will render all possible assistance.” Jaishankar’s remarks come after the Indian Embassy in Washington said that the Consulate in Chicago was in touch with the local authorities in Indianapolis as well as the community leaders, and would render all possible assistance, as required. “We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the shocking shooting incident at Fedex facility in Indianapolis and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. The Indianapolis metropolitan police department identified eight victims that were killed in this senseless act, that includes four members from the Sikh Community,” the embassy said in a statement.the victims from the shooting were identified as 32-year-old Matthew R. Alexander, 19-year-old Samaria Blackwell, 66-year-old Amarjeet Johal, 64-year-old Jaswinder Kaur, 68-year-old Jaswinder Singh, 48-yearold Amarjit Skhon, 19-yearold Karlie Smith and 74-yearold John Weisert.