Neel Acharya, missing Indian student, found dead
Neel Acharya, an Indian student of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who was reported missing on social media by his mother Sunday, has been confirmed dead.
In an email written to the university’s computer science department Monday, interim CS head Chris Clifton informed students and faculty of Acharya’s death, according to The Exponent, a local newspaper.
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“It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away,” Clifton wrote. “My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected.”
Clifton called Acharya a “driven individual and academically talented.” Acharya’s friend and roommate, Aryan Khanolkar, said he was a “loving, charismatic soul, and will be cherished by all of us.”
Acharya, who went to St. Mary’s School in Pune, was a double major in computer science and data science in the John Martinson Honors College.
Clifton told the Exponent he received an email from the Office of the Dean of Students confirming Acharya’s death.
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“A deceased person was found that matched Neel’s description and had Neel’s ID on (him),” he said.
On Sunday morning, a “college-aged” man was found dead near the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories about 10:30 am. According to social media posts by users claiming to be close to Acharya, the student’s last known location was pinged in the same area the body was found.
The coroner has not confirmed whether Acharya was the man found near Zucrow that morning, which Robert Wang, a research assistant working at the lab, said had been found by a graduate student.
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“It’s a shock,” Clifton said of Acharya. “A real loss to our community.”
Earlier, in a desperate plea, Gaury Acharya, Neel’s mother, posted about his disappearance on X, “Our son Neel Acharya is missing since yesterday Jan 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying in Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off in Purdue university. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything.”
The Consulate General of India in Chicago responded with assurances of support. “Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel’s family. Consulate will extend all possible support and help,” it wrote.
Acharya’s death comes just days after the brutal murder of another Indian student, Vivek Saini 25, by a homeless man in Lithonia, Georgia.
Saini, who worked as a part-time clerk and had been offering help and shelter to the accused Julian Faulkner, was caught on camera striking Saini nearly 50 times on the head with a hammer.
