Indian Student In US Whose Parents Received Ransom Call Found Dead In Ohio’s Cleveland

Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad, who moved to the US in 2023 to pursue his master’s from Cleveland State University was found dead in Ohio’s Cleveland.

The Indian embassy in New York in a social media post on X on Tuesday announced that the student died after he was missing for nearly three weeks.

“Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom the search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr Mohammed Arfath’s family. The Indian embassy in New York is in touch with local agencies to ensure thorough investigation into Mr Mohammed Abdul Arfath’s death. We are extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family to transport his mortal remains to India,” the embassy officials said in a post on social media site X.

Arfath’s parents last month said they received a call demanding ransom worth a lakh rupees for the safety of their son. A caller claimed to have kidnapped the 25-year-old and threatened to sell his kidney if the ransom wasn’t paid.

Arfath’s father, Mohammed Saleem, said he received a ransom call demanding $1200 for his son’s release but the abductors did not specify the payment method, according to a report by The Hindu.

“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,” Saleem was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The authorities in the US said Arfath was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, red jacket and blue jeans.

Arfath joins a grim list of Indian students and Indian-origin people dying under mysterious circumstances in the US. These death have caused concern among the Indian diaspora in the US.