Hyderabad Student Found Dead in Ohio, Concerns Rise Over Safety in the US

A 25-year-old Indian student, Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who had been missing since last month, was discovered deceased in Cleveland, United States. Arfath, originally from Hyderabad, is the second student to be found dead within a week and marks the 11th such incident in 2024.

The Consulate General of India in New York confirmed Arfath's death, expressing distress over the tragic news. They stated that efforts were underway to collaborate with local authorities in the US to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Arfath's passing. Additionally, the consulate assured that they were providing necessary assistance to Arfath's family to repatriate his remains to India.

Arfath had traveled to the US in May 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree in Information Technology at Cleveland University. However, he went missing around March 7, with his family losing contact since then. Despite efforts to locate him, Arfath's disappearance took a concerning turn when his family received a ransom call on March 19, alleging his kidnapping and demanding payment for his release. The tragic incident has sparked fears within the Indian-American community regarding the safety of Indian students studying in the US.