Indian student missing since March 2024 in US found dead

An Indian student, missing since March of this year, was tragically found deceased in Ohio, USA, as confirmed by the Consulate General of India in New York on Tuesday.

According to reports, the student, identified as Muhammad Abdul Arfath, went to Cleveland University in the United States in 2023 as a student from Hyderabad. His body was discovered in Cleveland, Ohio, after going missing last month. Arfath’s death was confirmed by the Indian consulate in New York.

Expressing deep sorrow, the Consulate stated, “Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.” They assured continued coordination with local authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Consulate also pledged to provide all possible assistance to the grieving family for the repatriation of Arfath’s remains to India.

Originally hailing from Hyderabad, Arfath had embarked on a journey to the US in May 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree in IT from Cleveland University. However, he had been missing since March 7 of this year.

His father, Mohd Saleem, revealed that ten days after his disappearance, they received a ransom call demanding USD 1200 for his release.

On March 21, the Consulate General of India in New York had announced their collaboration with Arfath’s family and US authorities in the search efforts. They tweeted, “@IndiainNewYork is in touch with 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.”

This update followed reports of the 25-year-old Hyderabad student’s disappearance and the ransom demand.