A 25-year-old Bharatiya student named Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who went to the United States last year to pursue his Masters in IT from Cleveland University, has been missing since the beginning of March. Arfath, originally from Nacharam, Hyderabad, last spoke to his family on March 7, after which he lost contact, and his mobile phone has been switched off ever since.
Concerned about his disappearance, Arfath’s family, along with the Indian Consulate in New York, is actively working with local law enforcement authorities in Cleveland to locate him. His roommates in the US have reported his disappearance to the Cleveland Police, and efforts are underway to find him at the earliest.
In a distressing turn of events, Arfath’s family received a ransom call from an unidentified person claiming that Arfath had been kidnapped by a gang involved in drug trafficking. The caller demanded USD 1,200 for his release and even threatened to sell Arfath’s kidneys if the ransom wasn’t paid. Arfath’s father, Mohammed Saleem, expressed his anguish over the situation and pleaded for help.
Amidst growing concerns about the safety of Indian students in the US, Arfath’s case adds to a series of troubling incidents. Earlier this week, the Indian Consulate reported the death of another Indian student, Abhijeeth Paruchuru, in Boston. Similar cases of tragic deaths, including suicides and accidents, have raised alarm within the Bharatiya community residing in the US.
In response to these alarming incidents, Arfath’s parents have sought the intervention of the central government and have reached out to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for assistance. They are hopeful that immediate measures will be taken to ensure the safe return of their son and to address the broader issue of the safety and security of Bharatiya students abroad.
The Indian Consulate, along with concerned authorities, continues to monitor the situation closely and urges anyone with information about Arfath’s whereabouts to come forward. As efforts to locate him intensify, the need for greater vigilance and support for Bharatiya students studying abroad becomes increasingly evident.
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