October 27, 2022
2 mins read

Cloud of confusion hovers over murder of Indian-American student

As the family continues to wait for more answers, they said they will never be able to get over their son’s death, but they will try to…reports Asian Lite News

Opening up for the first time since the gruesome killing of their 20-year-old son on the Purdue University campus in the US, the parents of Indian-American Varun Chheda said they are struggling to understand how it happened.

Varun Chheda, a data science student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, was killed by his 22 year-old South Korean roommate Ji Min Sha earlier this month.

“I would believe that, you know, there could be a fire or there could be an earthquake or there could be a car wreck or any other kind of thing, you know, accident. That could happen, but never, never something like this,” Manish Chheda, Varun’s father, told ABC News.

Sha, who now faces murder charge, stabbed Varun multiple times in the head and neck with a folding knife, an incident which the police called “senseless and unprovoked”.

Making his first court appearance, Sha said, “I’m very sorry.” He also claimed he was blackmailed, but didn’t elaborate further.

“I miss him terribly, because he was my son, because he was my friend,” Varun’s mother Seema Dedhiya told ABC News.

Varun was considered warm and humble by friends and family. He was a “bright student” who graduated from Park Tudor with glowing results in 2020.

His achievements in school included scoring top honours at a State Science Olympiad in 2016 and winning the State Spanish competition in 2015 and 2016. He also competed in Chemistry and Science Bowl competitions.

Dedhiya said that everything seemed normal when she drove him back to West Lafayette after a long weekend at home.

Just a few hours before the murder, Dedhiya said she texted her son her usual evening message: “Eat well, sleep well… Finish your homework,” and he, recalled Dedhiya, responded by saying: “Yes, Mom, I’ve done it all.”

In his last text to his mother at 11:45 pm, Varun wrote: “Goodnight mama.”

The couple told ABC News that they had no idea whether Varun had problems with his roommate and said their son rarely mentioned him.

As the family continues to wait for more answers, they said they will never be able to get over their son’s death, but they will try to.

When asked what she misses the most about her son, Dedhiya said: “His laugh… his brilliance.”

ALSO READ: US lauds India as key vaccine manufacturer

Previous Story

Two more Indian beaches enter coveted ‘Blue Beaches’ list

Next Story

Int’l tourists, labourers bring drugs to Goa: Sawant

Latest from -Top News

India, US Step Up Trade Talks

The development comes in the backdrop of the new US ambassador Sergio Gor taking charge in the US embassy is New Delhi….reports Asian Lite News India and the United States are progressing

Lanka Marks Next Phase of Indian Housing Drive

Phases III and IV of the Indian Housing Project highlight India’s commitment to supporting and empowering Sri Lanka’s Indian-origin Tamil community….reports Asian Lite News Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday

China’s Grab for Africa

China’s investments aim to strengthen its geopolitical influence and its high-tech manufacturing sector in Africa…reports Asian Lute News China is further consolidating its dominance in the rare earth elements sector by expanding

Pakistan Courts in Peril

The question now is whether Pakistan’s courts can continue to function as guardians of the law, or whether they will be reduced to instruments of control…reports Asian Lite News Pakistan judiciary’s independence
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Imran Khan rues decision of Pak siding with US

Khan believes that committing Pakistan’s support to the American occupation

Cisco bets big on India

Cisco is now building core manufacturing capabilities in India, including