Hyderabad: Mohammad Abdul Arfaat (25), a student from Hyderabad who had been missing in Cleveland for several weeks, has been found dead.
The Indian Embassy in New York announced this development via X on Tuesday.
"Abdul, whom we have been searching for, has tragically passed away in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to his family. We are coordinating with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and facilitate the repatriation of his remains," the statement read.
Abdul, originally from Hyderabad, had been missing since March 7. He was pursuing a Master's degree in IT at the University of Cleveland.
His father, Muhammad Salim, disclosed that he received a threatening phone call from unknown individuals demanding USD 1200 and warning of selling Abdul's kidney if the demand wasn't met. The callers insisted on evidence of Abdul's captivity. Salim stated that he heard someone crying in the background before the call abruptly ended. He immediately shared the number with relatives in America, instructing them to inform the Cleveland police.
Abdul's relatives promptly reported his disappearance to the Cleveland police on March 8, leading to the issuance of a lookout notice.
