New Delhi: A 25-year-old student originally from Hyderabad, who relocated to the United States in 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree at Cleveland State University, has tragically been discovered deceased, as announced by the Indian embassy in New York today. The individual, identified as Mohammed Abdul Arfath, had been reported missing for nearly three weeks. The embassy had previously disclosed its engagement with Abdul’s family and collaboration with local law enforcement authorities in the search efforts. This morning, the embassy sadly confirmed his demise.
Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.
Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath’s family. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr… https://t.co/FRRrR8ZXZ8
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) April 9, 2024
Expressing distress over the news, the embassy conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Mohammed Arfath, stating, “Our thoughts are with Mr. Mohammed Arfath’s family during this difficult time.” Furthermore, it asserted its coordination with local agencies to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath’s passing and pledged to facilitate the repatriation of his remains to India, offering support to the grieving family.
Mohammed Saleem, Arfath’s father, recounted his last conversation with his son on March 7, after which Arfath’s phone ceased to be reachable. Subsequently, on March 19, Mr. Saleem received a distressing call from an anonymous individual claiming Arfath’s abduction by a drug-trafficking gang, along with a demand for a ransom of $1,200. Despite Mr. Saleem’s request to speak to his son, the caller refused.
This unfortunate incident marks the eleventh reported death of an Indian national in the United States this year, with eight of the deceased being students. These successive losses have deeply unsettled Indian students studying in the US and their families back in India. Notably, the number of Indian students migrating to the US surged by 35 percent in the 2022-2023 academic session, reaching over 2.6 lakh. Among the student fatalities, Vivek Saini, aged 25, succumbed to a violent assault by a homeless individual addicted to drugs, while 27-year-old Venkataramana Pittala perished in a watercraft accident. The causes of death for several other students remain unconfirmed.
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