New York: Authorities informed that the Indian-origin student who was found dead in a nature preserve in the US days ago shot himself in the head. They added that the death was a suicide, though a toxicology report is pending. The 23-year-old Sameer Kamath is a US citizen and was a student at Purdue University, PTI reported.
In a press release, Justin Brummett, Coroner at Warren County Coroner's Office said, "Through extensive investigation by the Warren County Coroner's Office in conjunction with multiple other local and federal agencies, we are now able to release a preliminary cause and manner of death."
The coroner's office said that prior to releasing this information, Kamath's family was notified of the results.
This is an ongoing investigation with the Warren County Coroner's Office, Warren County Sheriff's Office, Purdue University Administration and other supporting agencies, it said.
"Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and we hope they are respected during such a difficult time," Brummett said.
A report in The Purdue Exponent said that Kamath was a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering. The report added that mechanical engineering head Eckhard Groll said in an email to the ME community that Kamath was from Massachusetts.
Kamath's death is the latest in a string of tragic incidents among students of Indian origin and from India in the US.
Last month, another Purdue student, 19-year-old Neel Acharya, who had been reported missing, was found dead on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. Acharya was a US citizen. Authorities have said that there was no trauma or significant injuries found during the autopsy on Acharya, and "no foul play is suspected at this time".
Last month, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia. Earlier this month, another Indian student, Syed Mazahir Ali, hailing from Hyderabad and pursuing a Masters in information technology, was chased and brutally attacked by three unidentified men in Chicago, PTI reported.