Indian student missing for three weeks found dead

Hyderabad native Mohammad Abdul Arfath is the 12th Indian-origin student to have died under mysterious circumstances in a year

Mohammad Abdul Arfath, an Indian student hailing from Hyderabad, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio, after going missing for three weeks. The Indian consulate general in New York has confirmed the death of Arfath who had relocated to the US in 2023 to study at Cleveland University.

“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.

“@IndiainNewYork is in touch with local agencies to ensure a 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 mission posted on X.

Arfath’s death comes less than a week after the Indian mission reported the demise of another Indian student, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, in Cleveland, Ohio.

READ: At least 10 Indian or Indian American students died in US under mysterious circumstances since Jan. 2023 (March 18, 2024)

“Deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of Mr. Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio”, India in New York posted on X. “Police investigation is underway. @IndiainNewYork continues to remain in touch with the family in India.”

“All possible assistance is being extended including transporting Mr. Uma Gadde’s mortal remains to India at the earliest,” it added.

Following a series of attacks on Indians and people of Indian origin, officials from the Indian Embassy in Washington and its consulates in various locations held a virtual interaction with Indian students from across the United States, discussing various aspects of student well-being and ways to stay connected with the larger diaspora.

READ: Tragic deaths of Indian-origin students in the US raise alarms over safety (February 15, 2024)

Since January 2023, at least 12 Indian or Indian American students have died under mysterious circumstances on US campuses.

These deaths have sparked concerns and raised alarms within the community. From suspected homicides to tragic accidents, each case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by students, both international and domestic, pursuing education on US campuses.

Here is a list:
Paruchuri Abhijit, a 23-year-old engineering student from Burripalem, Andhra Pradesh, studying at Boston University, was found dead in his car in a nearby forest on March 11, 2024, suspected to be a victim of robbery in Boston, Massachusetts. Abhijit lived in a rented house with classmates.

Sameer Kamath, 23, a Purdue University doctoral student from Massachusetts, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on February 5 at the Niches Crow’s Grove Nature Preserve in Williamsport, Indiana. He was expected to graduate with a Ph.D. in 2025.

Neel Acharya, an undergraduate student at Purdue University and an alum of St. Mary’s School in Pune, was found dead near the airport on January 29, with no signs of foul play in West Lafayette, Indiana. Toxicology reports are awaited to determine the cause of death.

Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, 19, a student of Lindner School of Business, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, was found dead on February 1, with no foul play suspected. He was a graduate of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.

Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old student from Haryana pursuing a Masters in Business Administration, was killed by a homeless man in Lithonia, Georgia, on January 16, inside a store where he worked. The homeless man was previously sheltered by employees at the store.

Akul Dhawan, 18, an undergraduate student from California studying at the University of Illinois, was found dead on campus, possibly due to hypothermia, on a frigid night in January in Urbana, Illinois. His parents have filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by police during the search.

Aaditya Adlakha, 26, a fourth-year doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, was found shot inside a car in November in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was described as much-loved and intelligent by colleagues and faculty members.

Jude Chacko, 21, a student at Temple University, was shot in the forehead in a suspected robbery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in June 2023. Authorities believe it was a robbery case leading to murder.

Veera Saiesh, a 24-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, was killed in a suspected robbery case at a gas station, in Columbus, Ohio, in April 2023. He would have graduated with a Master’s degree in a few days.

Devsish Nandepu, 23, was killed after armed robbers shot him at Princeton Park in Chicago, Illinois, on January 22, 2023. A 14-year-old was arrested in March 2023 in connection to the shooting. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, he had been in Chicago for less than two weeks.