A 25-year-old Indian student, Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who was missing since last month, has been found dead in Cleveland, United States. Arfath, originally from Hyderabad, was pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Cleveland University. This unfortunate incident marks the second case within a week and the 11th in 2024.
The Indian consulate in New York confirmed Arfath’s death and expressed deep sorrow. They are working with local authorities in the US to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Additionally, they are providing support to his family to repatriate his remains to India.
@IndiainNewYork is in touch with the Mr. Mohammad Abdul Arfath’s family and authorities in the US.
We are working with local law enforcement agencies to find him at the earliest. @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS https://t.co/zbEzJSRFNN
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 20, 2024
Arfath went missing on March 7, and his family lost contact with him since then. His phone was switched off, adding to their worries. Later, on March 19, the family received a ransom call claiming Arfath was kidnapped by a drug-selling gang. The caller demanded $1,200 for his release and threatened to sell his kidneys if the ransom wasn’t paid.
Despite efforts from both the family and authorities, Arfath couldn’t be located in time. The Indian consulate, along with local law enforcement, had been actively searching for him since March 21. Arfath’s family also reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for assistance in finding and bringing him back to India.
This tragic incident adds to the growing concerns within the Indian-American community, with Arfath being the 11th Indian or Indian-origin student to face such circumstances in the US in 2024. Just last week, another Indian student, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, passed away in Ohio. The increasing number of these incidents highlights the need for greater safety measures and support for Indian students studying abroad.
