File photo of Dr. Paramsetty Ramesh Babu Photo credit: Special Arrangements
A 64-year-old Indian-American doctor from Menakuru village of Nedupita mandal in Tirupati district was shot dead by unknown assailants on August 23 (Friday) in Tuscaloosa County, west-central Alabama, United States.
The deceased has been identified as Dr. Paramsetty Ramesh Babu, who completed his MBBS degree from SV Medical College in Tirupati and migrated to the US some four decades ago.
Relatives in Dr. Ramesh Babu's native village informed the local media of his death. However, there was no confirmation about the circumstances that led to the exchange of fire.
After pursuing higher education in medicine in the US, Dr. Ramesh Babu practiced as a physician in Tuscaloosa and earned a reputation. Dr. Ramesh Babu founded several hospitals across the U.S. He is survived by four children who are all settled in the U.S.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ramesh Babu was widely recognized for his contributions and received numerous accolades for his unwavering dedication.
Dr. Ramesh Babu maintained a strong connection with his roots by donating to a school in his native village Menakuru and contributing towards the construction of Sai Baba's temple in the village. His younger brother, Paramsetty Ramaiah, is a senior Telugu Desam Party leader in the Venkatgiri assembly constituency.
Meanwhile, his relatives denied the speculations that Dr. Ramesh Babu's body will be brought to Menakuru. “Prosecution authorities in the US are yet to hand over the body to the next of kin. A senior worker of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tirupati chapter, who is close to the doctor's family, said on behalf of his cousin and his wife. Relatives are expected to fly in after receiving clarification on Montgomery's funeral schedule, he said.
A condolence meeting will be held in Tirupati, said IMA central committee member Dr P Ravi Raju, who was Dr Ramesh Babu's junior at SV Medical College in Tirupati.