Pained to hear about killing Indian-origin man in South Carolina: Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that she was pained over the killing of an Indian-origin businessman in South Carolina.

The EAM tweeted: "I am pained to hear about the killing of Harnish Patel, a US national of Indian origin in Lancaster, South Carolina."

"Our Consul has reached Lancaster and met the family of Patel," she said. "My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," she added.

I am pained to hear about the killing of Harnish Patel a US national of Indian origin in Lancaster, South Carolina. /1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 5, 2017

Our Consul has reached Lancaster and met the family of Harnish Patel. The investigation of the case is in progress. /2 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 5, 2017

My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. /3

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 5, 2017

I am sorry to know about the attack on Deep Rai a US national of Indian origin. I have spoken to Sardar Harpal Singh father of the victim./1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 5, 2017

He told me that his son had a bullet injury on his arm. He is out of danger and is recovering in a private hospital. /2 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 5, 2017

Patel, 43, had closed his shop at 11.24 pm on Thursday. Just 10 minutes later, he was shot dead outside his home in Lancaster, as per IANS.

Patel`s death came two days after President Donald Trump said the US condemned as "hate and evil" the killing of Indian Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead at a pub on February 22 in Kansas by a white man who screamed, "Get out of my country".

Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed on February 22 when 51-year-old US Navy veteran Adam Purinton opened fire at him and his friend Alok Madasani.

In another incident, a Sikh man was injured when a masked gunman opened fire at him in front of his house in Kent city in Washington after telling him "Go back to your own country".

The victim, hit in the arm, survived the Friday night attack.

Meanwhile, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has welcomed "valuable" Indian community to the state, stressing that "hateful" actions of one man does not define them in the aftermath of the killing of an Indian engineer.

A delegation of Indian-Americans in Kansas along with the Hindu-American Foundation joined the Indian Consul General in Houston, Anupam Ray, in meeting Brownback and Lt Governor Jeff Colyer.

"The hateful actions of one man don't define us - KS welcomes & supports Indian community," Brownback said in a tweet shortly after the meeting last Thursday.

Met with India's @anupamifs. The hateful actions of one man don't define us-KS welcomes & supports Indian community. pic.twitter.com/xRf6F7ZVYy — Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) March 2, 2017

"Unique contributions of the Indian-community make KS a better place. We stand with them in the face of this crime," Colyer said after the meeting.

"The meeting with Governor Brownback and Lt Governor Colyer was very fruitful in my opinion," said Sridhar Harohalli, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Indian Association of Kansas City, as per PTI.

"The delegation got an assurance that this incident will be prosecuted effectively. Governor Brownback's commitment help to get Srinivas' widow Sunayana Dummala back to her home and career in Kansas was also heartening," Harohalli said.

At the meeting, a message sent through a family friend from Sunayana was also read out.

(With Agency inputs)