The Kannada community living abroad is reeling from the double tragedy of two young men from Karnataka dying under tragic circumstances in a mere ten days. As the investigation into the shooting of a software engineer in Canada continues, a 31-year-old youth from Dakshina Kannada has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in Ireland.
Mysterious Death: Sanjo Sunil in Dublin
The most recent tragedy involves Sanjo Sunil (31), who was staying in Vimalagiri, Kutrupadi, Kadaba taluk, Dakshina Kannada. Sunil was living with his wife in the Charlestown area of Finglas, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Sunil’s body was found hanging at his place of residence after his wife, a nurse in Ireland, was away at her workplace, according to reports. Police (An Garda Síochána) arrived at the scene and have registered a case of suspicious death.
Sunil had a varied work record, having worked in Israel before. He had only arrived in Ireland a few months ago to join his wife, whom he had married a year ago. The sudden death of Sunil has given rise to many questions, and the Irish authorities are presently examining whether it is a case of suicide or if there was any foul play involved.
The Canada Shooting: Chandan Kumar
The news from Ireland has revived the heat of another trauma that occurred only 10 days earlier in Canada. In Toronto, Indian software engineer Chandan Kumar, living in Tyamagondlu in Nelamangala taluk, was shot and killed by unidentified assailants. Chandan, by contrast, was not merely a professional; he was a pillar of the local community, having launched four Kannada-specific organizations in Canada to foster solidarity and mobilize the diaspora.
Despite his high standing, he was targeted in a violent shooting. Much as his funeral was recently held in his hometown of Karnataka, the Toronto Police Service has been cautious about the investigation of the killings. The motivation behind the murder and the perpetrators’ identities, as yet, are unknown, leaving a huge amount frustrated and grieving for his family and supporters.
A Community in Mourning
Back-to-back, these have inspired fear and sadness of their own on their hometowns as two young men who came abroad to start life on better conditions have been killed in consecutive cases. In Kadaba, the family of Sanjo Sunil is also experiencing the grief of losing a son who had only just begun his European life.
Here in Nelamangala, the community is still demanding justice for Chandan Kumar - it is urging the Indian government to work with Canada’s government for a breakthrough in resolving the case. Local representatives and Kannada organizations have urged more resources as well as security systems available to foreign students and professionals, as well as transparency in investigating these tragic incidents.
