Indian consulate in Atlanta condemns student's brutal murder with hammer

THE consulate general of India in Atlanta, US, has strongly condemned the fatal attack on a 25-year-old Indian student and noted that the authorities arrested the accused and were investigating the case.

Vivek Saini, who had recently earned an MBA degree in the US, was hammered to death on January 16 by a homeless drug addict whom he had been helping for the past couple of days in Lithonia in the American state of Georgia.

“We are deeply anguished by the terrifying, brutal, & heinous incident that led to the death of Indian National/student Mr Vivek Saini & condemns attack in the strongest terms. It is understood that the US authorities have arrested the accused & are investigating the case,” the Indian consulate said in a post on X Monday (29).

It added that the consulate got in touch with Saini's family immediately after the incident, provided all consular assistance in sending the mortal remains back to India, and remains in touch with the family.

The horrifying incident was caught on camera when assailant Julian Faulkner mercilessly struck Saini nearly 50 times on the head with a hammer.

Saini, a part-time clerk at a store that sheltered Faulkner, had shown kindness to the accused for almost two days and provided him with chips, a coke, water, and even a jacket for warmth, M9 News Channel reported on Sunday (28).

However, Saini was attacked on January 16 while going home as he, concerned for safety, requested Faulkner to depart or face police intervention.

Upon arriving at the scene, police officers found Faulkner standing over Saini's lifeless body.

The young student, who had migrated to the US two years ago after completing his B Tech, had recently earned a Master's in Business Administration. Saini's family in the northern Indian state of Haryana mourned the loss of the promising young man, describing him as a brilliant student striving for a decent job.

His parents, Gurjeet Singh and Lalita Saini were devastated and unable to discuss the tragic incident.

Saini's mortal remains were sent back to his family on January 24.

(With PTI inputs)