Telugu pharmacist shot dead in New Jersey

Dyapa Arjun Reddy(52)

Trenton (New Jersey): An Indian-American pharmacy owner here was shot dead allegedly by a black teenager after he refused to give a medicine to the boy without a valid prescription.52-year-old Arjun Reddy Dyapa, owner of Brunswick Avenue Pharmacy in Broad Street, was shot in the chest and brought dead to Capital Health Regional Medical Centre across the pharmacy around 6.30 pm local time last evening.Eye witnesses said a teenage African-American with dreadlocks showed up at the counter and demanded a prescription medicine without producing valid prescription issued by a physician.
Dyapa politely refused and said sorry but when the customer insisted that he be given the medicine, he told the boy that he would lose his licence if he obliges him.
The customer, at that time, seemed to have resigned to the fate and nodded his head, said Dyapa's staff. The boy left only to return again and fired one bullet at Dyapa from his pistol from behind.
The police have taken the video camera recordings and are confident of nabbing the criminal very soon.
Dyapa, a native of Jadcherala village in Mehboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, is survived by wife Geetha and a 16-year-old daughter.
Dyapa was an active community activist and one of the founders of North American Telugu Association (NATA) and also a senior leader of American Telugu Association (ATA). He was involved with several social and cultural organisations in New Jersey.
Steve Ettman, who owns Westside Pharmacy on Hermitage Avenue, said he was "absolutely shocked" by the news. He is offering a USD 1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
"This could happen to any of us and Reddy was a nice guy, ever helpful," he said.
The shocked Indian-American community leaders gathered at the hospital to console the family and assist in the identification of the culprit.

Mr&Mrs ArjunReddy Dyapa(File)

Adopting a village
Monday 7 July 2008
Hyderabad: The American Telugu Association (ATA) members will adopt one village each in their motherland to contribute their might for its development. ATA has about 3000 members of whom about 300 will take up this programme over two years. ATA has chosen "Adopt a village" as its biennial theme this year and its chairman Gavva Chandra Reddy has started the initiative by adopting his native Pillalamarri village in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. "Prime emphasis of 'Adopt a village' programme will be on creating infrastructure for schools, improving sanitary conditions and providing healthcare facilities through special camps in collaboration with voluntary organisations like the Lions Club," ATA organiser Arjun Dyapa said. Another prominent ATA member P Malla Reddy has built a college building in his native village near Bhongir. "There has been a good response from our members to the initiative and many are ready to adopt their native villages and contribute to their uplift," Arjun said. Meanwhile, most of the second-generation NRI youth have been showing an inclination to return to their motherland, given the growing job and business opportunities here. With the Indian economy on a boom compared to the US, NRI youth were keen on investing in Andhra Pradesh and set up manufacturing facilities. ATA is seeking guidance from the state government on the investment prospects in Andhra Pradesh so that prospective investors could set up shop here. "Unlike in the past, we need not move lock, stock and barrel from the US to do business here. We can open our units here and do business even staying abroad," Arjun pointed out. 

Arjun Dyapa Addresses

167 Main St Ste 2A
Metuchen, NJ 08840