Indian-Origin Man Charged With Murder Of Nepalese Student In US After Being Caught On CCTV

An Indian-origin man has been charged with the murder of a 21-year-old student from Nepal, who was shot dead in her apartment during a robbery in the US city of Houston.

Police discovered Muna Pandey’s body with multiple gunshot wounds on Monday evening after receiving an anonymous tip about a dead body inside her apartment, Fox News reported. Pandey, who moved to Houston in 2021 to study at Houston Community College, was found lying on her bed with three gunshot wounds to her torso and one to the back of her head, according to court documents.

Bobby Singh Shah

US investigators believe Bobby Singh Shah, 51, shot her during an attempted robbery. Surveillance footage captured Shah outside her apartment shortly before the shooting, where he was seen demanding she open the door while brandishing a pistol. Authorities arrested Shah later that week during a traffic stop. He has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

“The suspect, Bobby Singh Shah, 51, is charged with capital murder in the 262nd State District Court. A booking photo of Shah is attached to this news release,” Hudson police said in a statement. “Shah was located and arrested on Wednesday evening during a traffic stop in northwest Houston in a coordinated effort by HPD SWAT officers, the HPD Crime Reduction Unit and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was subsequently booked into the Harris County Jail,” it added.

Pandey’s mother, who has been trying to contact her for days, is now seeking to travel to Houston from Nepal. Members of the Nepalese community in Houston are assisting her with travel arrangements. Friends described Pandey as a dedicated student and an only child, expressing their grief over her violent death.

“We are reaching out to you, our community, to help bring Anita to the United States so she can say goodbye to her only child and give Muna the farewell she deserves. The funds raised will be used to cover the costs of Muna’s funeral and to bring her mother to Houston to be with her daughter’s body for the final rituals,” a GoFundMe page read.