Hyderabad student reported missing in US discovered deceased

A 25-year-old student from Hyderabad, Mohammed Abdul Arfath, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio after going missing since last month. Arfath was pursuing a master’s degree in Information Technology at Cleveland University. His family received a ransom call, leading to concerns about his safety.

The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences to Arfath’s family and stated that they are working with local agencies to investigate his death and assist in transporting his remains back to India. The consulate had been in touch with Arfath’s family and authorities in the US since March 21 to locate him.

Arfath’s family received a ransom call from an unidentified person claiming he had been kidnapped by a gang selling drugs. The caller demanded USD 1,200 for his release and threatened to sell Arfath’s kidneys if the ransom wasn’t paid. Arfath had not been in contact with his family since March 7, raising concerns about his well-being.

Arfath went to the US in May 2023 for his studies and had not returned home since March 5. His family reached out to the Indian Consulate in Chicago and appealed to Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar for help in locating him. The Cleveland police had issued a watch order for Arfath, describing his last known attire.

Despite efforts to locate Arfath, his tragic death in Cleveland has left his family devastated. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death are being investigated by local authorities as his family mourns the loss of their beloved son and seeks closure in this tragic incident.