The US State Department has wished speedy recovery of the Indian student who was stabbed in Indiana state recently.
The State Department also described the incident as deeply disturbing.
“We are deeply disturbed by reports of a brutal attack against Indian graduate student Varun Raj Pucha. We wish him a full recovery from his injuries. We defer to local law enforcement for any questions about this ongoing case,” the State Department spokesperson told ANI.
The Indian student, who was identified as Varun Raj Pucha, a student at Valparaiso University, was stabbed in his head at a gym late last month.
He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
According to a Go Fund Me page created by The North American Telugu Society (NATS), Varun Raj Pucha is a native of Khammam city in Telangana.
“Currently, he is in critical condition, battling for his life in a coma, and his family is facing a harrowing journey filled with uncertainty and overwhelming medical bills. We were contacted by the family with a heavy heart, asking for our support to cover his extensive medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to the USA,” the page described.
Meanwhile, police arrested the suspected attacker, who was identified as 24-year-old Jordan Andrade of Porter Township.
“The VPD investigation has identified Jordan Andrade, 24, of Porter Township as the suspect. Andrade has been taken into custody on charges of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Andrade is incarcerated at the Porter County Jail on these charges,” Valparaiso Police said in a statement issued on its Facebook page.
The Valparaiso University community said the incident left it ‘shocked’.
“We are shocked and saddened by the attack on Varun Raj Pucha. At Valparaiso University, we consider each other family, and this incident is horrifying for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family,” José Padilla, the university’s president, said in a statement provided to the Chicago Tribune.