NEW DELHI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- India on Sunday condoled the death of an Indian-origin store owner in South Carolina and condemned the attack on another Indian-origin American national in Washington.
In a tirade of tweets, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the investigation into last week's killing of 43-year-old Indian-origin store owner Harnish Patel was on and that he had spoken to the father of the other person who was shot at outside his home at Kent in Washington.
"I am pained to hear about the killing of Harnish Patel a U.S. national of Indian origin in Lancaster, South Carolina. Our Consul has reached Lancaster and met the family of Harnish Patel. The investigation of the case is in progress," Swaraj wrote.
Patel, who owned a convenience store in Lancaster County, South Carolina, was found shot dead in the front yard of his home Thursday.
On the attack on 39-year-old Sikh-American Deep Rai who was shot at by a man who reportedly told him to "go back to your own country", the Minister said. "I am sorry to know about the attack on Deep Rai, a U.S. national of Indian origin. I have spoken to Sardar Harpal Singh, father of the victim."
"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," Swaraj added.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in the Indian capital has also condemned the attack on Rai. "Wishes for quick and full recovery. As @POTUS said we condemn hate and evil in all its forms," MaryKay L. Carlson, Charge dAffaires of American Embassy, tweeted.
Both these attacks came days after a 32-year-old Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead by a 51-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Adam Purinton, who had shouted "get out of my country".
