Mortal remains of Indian student who died in US brought to Hyderabad

The mortal remains of Mohammed Abdul Arfath, an Indian student who was found dead in Cleveland, United States, earlier this month, were brought to his residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Arfath had been missing since March 7 and had gone to the United States in 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree at Cleveland State University. In April, his father appealed to the government to repatriate his son’s body to India following his death.

The Consulate General of India in New York expressed sorrow over Arfath’s death and stated that they are in contact with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter. They said, “Anguished to learn that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mohammed Arfath’s family.” The consulate also mentioned that they are providing all possible assistance to the family to transport his mortal remains to India.

Arfath, 25, had traveled to the US in May 2023 but had been missing since March 7. His father, Mohd Saleem, revealed that they received a phone call from an unidentified person ten days after his disappearance, claiming that Arfath had been kidnapped and demanding a USD 1200 ransom for his release.

Recently, there has been an increase in tragedies involving the Indian community. In April, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, died, and a police investigation is ongoing. Additionally, in February, an Indian student was brutally attacked in Chicago. The Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that they are in contact with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as his wife in India, following the incident.