In a tragic turn of events, Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad pursuing his master’s degree in the United States, was discovered deceased in Cleveland, Ohio. Arfath, who relocated to the US in 2023 to attend Cleveland State University, had been missing for nearly three weeks before his untimely demise.

The Indian embassy in New York took to social media platform X on Tuesday to announce the heartbreaking news, expressing deep condolences to Arfath’s family. Embassy officials affirmed their commitment to coordinating with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Arfath’s death. Additionally, they vowed to extend all possible assistance to facilitate the repatriation of Arfath’s remains to India.

The distressing ordeal took a sinister turn when Arfath’s parents disclosed receiving a ransom call demanding a lakh rupees for their son’s safety. The caller purportedly claimed to have abducted Arfath, threatening to sell his kidney if the ransom was not paid. Arfath’s father, Mohammed Saleem, recounted receiving a demand of $1200 for his son’s release, although payment specifics were left unspecified by the abductors.

Expressing anguish over the loss, Saleem emphasized Arfath’s sole son status and his longing to reunite with family and friends back in India. The last communication Saleem had with his son was on March 7, a brief exchange during which Arfath expressed homesickness. Authorities in the US revealed that Arfath was last seen donning a white T-shirt, red jacket, and blue jeans, providing crucial details for ongoing investigations. Arfath’s tragic demise adds to a somber tally of Indian students and individuals of Indian descent meeting mysterious fates in the US, sparking concerns within the Indian diaspora.