(Image source from: timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Abhishek Sudhesh Bhat, a 25-year-old boy from Mysuru who was doing his Master’s in Computer Science at California State University in San Bernardino was shot dead and the culprit is not yet identified.

While he was returning home after his part-time job at a hotel he was shot. Srivastava, his friend who worked with him in the motel informed the family about the death.

In the morning the family got another call and they were informed about the death and that his body is kept in a local hospital in San Bernardino. One of the family members mentioned that there was evidence of the attack through the CCTV footage. However, the police are yet to find the culprit.

"We have contacted US Consulate and the Indian High Commission for more details and as of now, there is no clear information about the incident and why Abhishek was shot dead. Modalities are being worked out for the parents and Abhishek's younger brother to travel to San Bernardino," a family member said.

His family is from Udupi, his father, Sudesh Chand is a yoga guru and a founder of Sri Upanishath Yoga Centre Trust in Kuvempunagar in Mysuru and he has been handing this center for 16 years now. Abhishek's mother is Nandini Aithal and she was working at Sarada Vilas College.

Abhishek studied at Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology at Mysuru and then started his Master’s from April 1st, 2018 in California. He was a Teaching Assistant of Dr. Ernesto Gomez for Computer Science class at the California State University, San Bernardino College of Natural Sciences, according to his facebook profile.

Mysuru MP Pratap Simha has promised to help Sudesh and Nandini after being contacted. His parents further contacted the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance and coordination with the Indian Embassy in the United States.

As per family sources, the parents are planning to leave for the US given the legal procedures and formalities to secure the body is a big process.

By Neha Makhija