VALPARAISO, Indiana – Pucha Varun Raj, a 29-year-old Indian student hailing from Khammam, Telangana, who was brutally stabbed in the head while at a gym in Valparaiso, Indiana, on October 29, has sadly succumbed to his injuries. Varun had traveled to the United States to pursue a Master of Science degree in computers at Valparaiso University, where he enrolled just last year. His father, Pucha Ramurthy, is a dedicated government school teacher.
The tragic incident unfolded as Varun was seated in a massage chair, seeking relaxation in between his studies, when he was abruptly and viciously attacked by a fellow gym-goer, 24-year-old Jordan Andrade. Following the assault, law enforcement swiftly arrested Andrade.
Andrade’s reported motive was that he found Varun’s behavior “weird” and claimed to have felt threatened by him. However, the gym management contradicted Andrade’s assertion, affirming that Varun had been well-behaved during his time at the facility.
This shocking and unfortunate incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in the United States and abroad. Varun’s pursuit of education in the U.S. has tragically been cut short, and the circumstances surrounding this brutal attack continue to raise questions about the safety and security of international students in the United States. The local authorities are diligently investigating the matter, with the hope of providing answers and justice for Varun Raj and his grieving family.
