VOI World/ Desk
An Indian student from Telangana was shot dead in Philadelphia, United States, in what investigators believe may have been a planned attack disguised as a late-night pizza delivery. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora and raised fresh concerns about the safety of Indian students and workers in the US.
The victim, 28-year-old Anshul Kuncha, had moved to the United States several years ago for higher studies and was pursuing an MBA while working part-time to support himself. Originally from Gundlapochampally near Hyderabad, he was employed by a Japanese company and also took up pizza delivery shifts on weekends to help repay his education loan, according to family members.
Police said Kuncha received an order to deliver pizzas to an apartment complex in North Philadelphia late at night. Shortly after arriving at the location, he was shot in the back of the head. Investigators later discovered that the apartment linked to the delivery request was vacant, prompting suspicions that the order may have been used to lure him to the scene.
According to reports, surveillance footage showed two masked individuals near the location before the shooting. Authorities recovered shell casings from the scene and launched an extensive investigation. No arrests have been announced so far, and police have not publicly identified a motive.
Kuncha’s family has strongly rejected suggestions that the incident was a robbery. His sister described the attack as a deliberate trap designed to target him, noting that nothing appeared to have been stolen and that even the pizzas remained untouched. Relatives also said he had no known enemies and were unable to identify any reason he would have been singled out.
The Consulate General of India in New York confirmed Kuncha’s death and said it is coordinating with local authorities while providing assistance to the family. Efforts are underway to repatriate his mortal remains to India.
The case has sparked concern among Indian communities in the United States, particularly as several violent incidents involving Indian-origin students and workers have been reported in recent years. While investigators have not classified the shooting as a hate crime, the circumstances surrounding the killing continue to raise questions as authorities work to determine exactly why the young student was targeted.
