The man who shot dead Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla on February 22 in an Olathe, Kansas bar and injured two others including another Indian and an American, has been charged with hate crime which carries a life to death penalty.

The Department of Justice has charged the 51-year-old Adam Purinton with shooting and killing Kuchibhotla, as well as attempting to kill Alok Madasani, just because of their nationality and the colour of their skin.

Srinivas’ widow Sunayna Dumala, told the Kansas City Star newspaper: “The federal charges brought a lot of relief in my heart. I got to hear what I wanted to hear. I’m glad that things are moving fast.”

At the bar that day, say witnesses, Purinton shouted at the two Indians, saying “get out of my country” before shooting.

A 24-year-old American, Ian Grillot, tried to intervene and was also injured in the shooting.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Thomas E Wheeler, II, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and United States Attorney Thomas E Beall of the District of Kansas made this announcement.

The Justice Department is yet to decide whether it will seek the death penalty, as per reports quoting a media release.

—India Legal Bureau