Indian student,25, goes missing in US; Family gets $1,200 Ransom Call

After 23-year-old Paruchuri Abhijit was found dead inside Boston University, the Indian American Community is already living in fear, and now another student from Hyderabad has gone missing in the US.

All is certainly not well for the Indian students studying in the USA. After 9 Indian students died unnatural deaths in the US in 2024, now as per reports Abdul Mohammed, a 25-year-old Indian student studying at Cleveland University, Ohio has gone missing.

If this was not enough, to increase the panic among the community, the parents in India received a ransom call demanding nearly a lakh rupees. They received a call from an unidentified caller who informed them that their son had been kidnapped by them and the caller threatened the parents that if they did not give the demanded money, they would sell the student's kidney. The caller also said that their son had been kidnapped by drug sellers in Cleveland.

Abdul Mohammed hails from Hyderabad. He went to the US last May to pursue a master's degree in Information Technology at the University in Ohio.

As per the NDTV report, the family claimed that their son has not been in touch with them since March 7, 2024.

“He [Mr. Arfath] is my only son. He said he was missing us and his friends and wanted to come home. I told him that he could do so during his vacations, and if needed, I would send him the airfare. The last time I spoke to him was on March 7, but that was only for a few seconds. He called his friend the next day and spoke to him. I am told that a detective [a police officer] is handling the case,” said his father, as quoted by The Hindu.

Missing complaint filed with Cleveland police

The family has filed a missing complaint with the Cleveland police. As per the police complaint, the student was wearing a white T-shirt, red jacket and blue jeans. The parents have also written to the Indian Council in Chicago and urged them to help in locating their son.

The incident happened at a time when already 9 Indian students have lost their lives on US land so far in the same year and all these deaths are not natural. Even in the last one where Abhijeeth Paruchuru was found dead in a car in a forest, the officers said that preliminary investigation revealed no foul play. The question clearly arises are these mere coincidences that these deaths happened or there is something against the Indian community in the US? There are many unanswered questions which need to be addressed by the US government.

Indian study-abroad aspirants likely get discouraged to study in US

Till now, the USA has been among the popular choice among Indian students who were seeking to pursue courses abroad. However, the recent development is not only making the Indian American Community fearful but back in India parents will be reluctant to send their children to the US due to the lack of security for Indian students. The obvious question is who is responsible for the deaths and now the kidnap of a young student from India.

Read more:

• Indian student's death in US: Initial investigations rule out foul play
• Boston University student from India found dead in USA; 9th such case