Members of the Hindu community in Seattle came together to organise a prayer ceremony in memory of Jaahnavi Kandula, the 23-year-old Indian student who tragically lost her life when struck by an overspeeding police car while crossing a street.
About 25 people gathered under a cloudy sky at Denny Park on Sunday (24) afternoon to hold a Shanti Puja, a Hindu prayer ceremony that is performed to invoke peace and blessings for the departed soul, The Seattle Times reported.
“You create a message with protest, but you can create an even stronger message with peace,” said Arun Sharma, founder of UTSAV, an organisation that aims to connect South Asians with local communities.
Kandula was hit by a police vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave when she was crossing a street on January 23. He was driving at 74 mph (more than 119 kmh) on the way to a report of a drug overdose call.
In bodycam footage released earlier this month by the Seattle Police Department, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed about the deadly crash and dismissed any implication Dave might be at fault or that a criminal investigation was necessary.
Auderer, who was involved in the investigation, can be heard calling Kandula a “regular person” and suggesting that the department “write a check”.
“Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway,” he said, misstating Kandula's age. “She had limited value,” Auderer said.
Last week, the Seattle Community Police Commission has recommended the city police chief to relieve Auderer, who is currently under investigation for joking about and downplaying Kandula's death, from duty and withhold his pay.
(PTI)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)