IndiaPost.com - Sketches of Louisiana Indians' killers released

HOUSTON: Police have released the sketches of two black men wanted in connection with the murder of two Indian students of Louisiana State University after gathering relevant eyewitness accounts.

The duo was seen hurriedly leaving the apartment complex, in which the Indians lived, in a car with one or two other people, officials of the task force constituted to investigate the murders said. "All indications so far are that the suspects were looking for someone to rob when they killed the two victims," police said.

One of the men, believed to have been the driver of the car, was a black male estimated to be in his 20s. "His hair was done in twists in rows. He was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt," police said.

The second man, wearing a white long sleeve shirt with a high collar and dark jeans, is also said to be a black male in his 20s or 30s, nearly 5 ft 10 inches tall with a muscular build and a receding hairline, they said.

They are said to have left in an Oldsmobile Alero. Investigators believe the men might have been scouting the area for someone to rob and might have seen Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma, 31, arrive at the complex to visit his friend Kiran Kumar Allam, 33.

In that case, they could have followed Komma and that could also explain why there was no sign of forced entry. Police have not yet released the descriptions of other two suspects. Allam and Komma, both hailing from Andhra Pradesh, were shot dead Thursday last at the Edward Gay Apartments on the edge of the LSU campus.

They were pursuing doctoral degrees at LSU and the apartment belonged to Allam. Officials from the four-agency task force, which is being assisted by the FBI, have asked residents of Edward Gay and nearby apartments to come out with any information they had about the shootings.

Baton Rouge police spokesman Don Kelly said "It (the information) may not be anything. But, it might be key to solving a case." Meanwhile, the LSU has lowered the American flag on its Parade Ground to half-mast in honor of these two doctoral students.

The LSU Foundation has also established the 'Komma & Allam Support Fund to assist the students' families. Police officials had a long meeting with Indian diplomats here on Monday.