Murder of Sejal Patel of Twinsburg, Ohio

City of Twinsburg Government Center

 Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh sentenced Chetan Patel to 30 years to life and his mother, Minaxi, to 25 years to life in prison.

The two were found guilty last week of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse in the murder of Sejal Patel, 28, in July 2005. Sejal Patel was a resident of Pinebark Place, a suburb on the southeast of Cleveland, Ohio.

Judge Unruh said, "She was important, she was valuable, she was a human being. She wasn't treated as any of these things" Read more at The Plain Dealer.
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What I have been told by a Patel friend, that the tug of war between a mother in law and the daughter in law in the Patel community is not uncommon and sometimes can reach a disturbing level.

I suppose its likely that if Sejal Patel was victimized in India, the perpetrators would have escaped the consequences. For Sejal Patel, the American justice system worked.

I think, probably, the origin of these types of problems can be traced back to how Patel, Gujrati and the desi society is structed in India. I think the odds are that my Patel friend will say that there definitely are more Sajel Patels and people like her tormentors in the Patel society in India.

Bhagwan Sejal Ki Atma Ko Shanti Pradhan Kare

Cleveland Temple of Shiva Vishnu

At popular events at the Great Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma, desis park along the road that leads to the lower level parking.  This narrow road provides for two way traffic and pedestrian access to the temple.  This is a dangerous place for the pedestrians since some desis driving as if they are on Indian streets.  It is a matter of when and not if regarding the unfortunate incident of lead footed desi hurting a pedesterian on this access road.

Restricting parking on this road is the prudent thing to do.    

Comment - Sree Venkateshwara Hindu Temple

This evening Rev. Mary and Susan Davis sent out an email alert. The Richfield Village Board of Zoning Appeals was hearing an appeal regarding the proposed Sree Venkateshwara Hindu temple.

The proposed temple on Brecksville Road just off 77 has generated considerable controversy among some residents of Richfield. They claim it will generate traffic, noise and "the influx of strangers into the residential neighborhood." Stop me if you've heard this before.

Read more at Pho and Cee Jay's Blog, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron

Resident Comment - Sree Venkateshwara Temple, Richfield

A comment by Sarina Barkwas in connection with the Sree Venkateshwara Temple issue. Jay Porter of Vorys, Seymour and Pease are on the temple side. Bill Burger and Jerry Smith are architects.

Sree Venkateshwara Temple of Cleveland

Representing the proposed Sree Venkateshwara Temple of Cleveland at some meetings in Richfield are Nanja Sundaram, Laks Benkatraman, Ramakrishna Bandi, MD and Jagdish Medarametla.

Richfield Village residents are opposed to the construction of the Hindu Sree Venkateswara Temple, which is being built in their neighborhood.

The residents’ attorney, Leland D. Cole, filed an administrative appeal in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 20, 2007 and Judge Patricia Cosgrove is scheduled to hear the case.

A group called “Concerned Richfield Homeowners” an Unincorporated Associated, is listed as the plaintiff in the court appeal, along with the following individual members: Brush Road residents Jim Voltz, Bob and Rosemary Lassiter, Brad and Beth Newcomb and Don and Sally Lane; Townsend Road residents Joe Stefanini and the Primosch family; and Brecksville Road resident David Hutton.

“I don’t dislike Indian people or their culture,” Larry Primosch is reported as saying. “This is just the wrong place for it. The application doesn’t meet four of the seven standards for a conditional use nor one of the five standards for a church.”