Indian student in USA, Abdul Mohammed

A 25-year-old Indian student, Abdul Mohammed, studying IT (information technology) at Cleveland University in the United States, has been reported missing.

Adding to the distress, Abdul’s father Mohammed Salim received a ransom call from an unknown person who claimed to have kidnapped Abdul. The caller demanded $1,200 (approximately ₹1 lakh) for his safe return.

The caller identified himself as a member of a drug-selling gang in Cleveland. He also threatened to sell Abdul’s kidney if the ransom money was not paid immediately.

Following the threats, Abdul’s relatives living in the US informed the police, who have now launched a search operation.

On Mar 18, Abdul’s family also visited the Indian Consulate in Chicago and sought their assistance. However, Abdul has not been traced so far.

Abdul is a native of Hyderabad and his family was informed about his disappearance on Mar 7.

This incident adds to the series of Indian students who died in quick succession in the US, sparking fears regarding the safety and security of those studying abroad, and angry netizens calling for a travel advisory.

The most recent reported case was of Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, a student of Lindner School of Business in Cincinnati, on Feb 1 after the deaths of Purdue University’s Neel Acharya, MBA student Vivek Saini in Georgia, and University of Illinois’ Akul B Dhawan.

Also read:

Four Indian students dead in US: Angry netizens call for travel advisory

‘American Dream’ of several Indian-descent families ends inexplicably in pools of blood