Telangana Student Shot Dead in US: Indian Embassy Responds to Mysterious Bullet Wound Case
A 26-year-old student from Telangana, G Praveen, was tragically found dead with bullet wounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, leaving his family and community in shock. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, with US authorities yet to confirm the cause, as reported by news agency PTI on Wednesday.
Praveen, pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was a native of Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad. His family learned of the incident Wednesday morning (IST) when US officials contacted them. His cousin Arun told PTI that friends reported seeing bullet wounds on Praveen’s body, with some claiming he was shot by unknown assailants at a store. “We don’t know the exact cause yet,” Arun said, adding that an autopsy will provide answers.
The family is reeling from the loss. Arun revealed Praveen had called his father early Wednesday, but the call went unanswered as he was asleep. “His parents are devastated,” he shared. Praveen, a B.Tech graduate from Hyderabad, moved to the US in 2023 for his MS, last visiting India in December 2024 before returning in January.
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The Indian Consulate in Chicago quickly responded, posting on X: “We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa. The Consulate is in touch with his family and the university, offering all possible support.” The embassy extended condolences, promising assistance as the investigation unfolds.
This marks a disturbing trend—Praveen is the third Telangana student allegedly shot dead in the US within months. In November 2024, Sai Teja Nukarapu, 22, was killed at a Chicago gas station, followed by another Hyderabad student, Teja, in January 2025. These incidents have alarmed India’s 331,600-strong student community in the US, per the 2024 Open Doors Report, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh leading at 56% of the total.
Praveen’s family has sought help from local MLAs to navigate this tragedy. As Milwaukee police probe the case, questions linger—accident or crime? For now, a grieving family awaits closure, leaning on diplomatic support in a foreign land.
