Hyderabad: A 27-year-old student from Hyderabad, pursuing advanced dental studies in Texas, was killed in a shooting at a Dallas gas station where he held a part-time job, his relatives confirmed Saturday. Chandrashekar Pole’s family has appealed to authorities for support in repatriating his remains amid ongoing investigations.
Pole, originally from Hyderabad’s LB Nagar area, arrived in the US in 2023 shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in dental surgery locally. He had recently completed his master’s program and was seeking permanent employment while supplementing his income through evening shifts at the station. The incident unfolded Friday night when an unknown gunman opened fire on him, according to family accounts.
The news reached Pole’s parents through the parents of a close friend, who delivered the devastating update in person. “We are heartbroken and request that both the central and state governments prioritize the well-being of Indian nationals abroad and expedite the return of my son’s body,” his mother, Sunitha Pole, shared with news agency ANI.
The Consulate General of India in Houston, responsible for consular services in Texas, expressed profound sorrow over the loss. “We deeply mourn the passing of Mr. Chandrashekar Pole, a Hyderabad native and student, in this shooting in Denton, Texas. Our team is coordinating with his loved ones to offer comprehensive aid, while maintaining close contact with law enforcement on the inquiry,” the consulate stated.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy pledged full governmental backing for the repatriation efforts. In a message of solidarity, he noted the profound sorrow triggered by the slaying of the LB Nagar resident at the hands of assailants in America. “May his soul rest in eternal peace; my thoughts are with his bereaved family during this unimaginable ordeal,” Reddy conveyed. He further committed the administration to facilitating the swift transport of Pole’s remains to his native soil.
Complicating matters, the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the official death certificate, a prerequisite for commencing the return process.
On Saturday, Bharat Rashtra Samithi legislator T. Sudhir Reddy and ex-minister T. Harish Rao called on the Pole family at their Hyderabad residence to offer condolences. “Witnessing the raw anguish of parents who envisioned a bright future for their promising son is utterly devastating,” Rao remarked in a social media statement. Speaking for his party, he pressed the state administration to act decisively in securing and delivering the young man’s body home without further delay.
This heartbreaking event underscores persistent vulnerabilities faced by overseas students, particularly those in late-night roles. It echoes earlier tragedies, including the January killing of a 26-year-old from Telangana in Connecticut and the discovery of bullet-ridden remains of a Ranga Reddy district man in the US this year. Just last month, police in California fatally shot a 30-year-old IT professional from Mahabubnagar after he reportedly wounded his housemate.
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