He was pronounced dead on the scene by Boston police. TANA Executive Vice- President Mohan Nannapaneni said Rao`s killing was not a hate crime, as is being speculated in some sections of the media.
"It is absolutely not a hate crime. It is an isolated incident. We do not yet know who did it and why but it is definitely not a hate or targetted crime," Nannapaneni told PTI over phone from Boston.
The police has some good leads in the case and any speculation about the cause of the shooting could jeopardise the investigation, he said. No arrests have yet been made in the case.
Nannapaneni said he had spoken to Rao`s roommates who denied that the young student was dragged from his rented house or that they were under attack because of their Indian background.
Boston police and the university officials are taking the investigation "very seriously" and Nannapaneni expressed confidence that those responsible for the crime will be soon brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Rao`s body was brought to New Jersey on Sunday where preparations were underway to send it to India. It will depart from Newark Airport later today for Mumbai from where the body will then be taken to Bhubaneshwar.
Rao`s father said, the state government should put pressure on America to make arrangements for arrest of the shooters instead of facilitating in bringing his dead body back home.