An Indian student, Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, has been reported missing in Chicago since May 2, NDTV reported. The Consulate General of India in Chicago has stated that it is in contact with local authorities and the Indian diaspora to locate or reestablish contact with him.
"The Consulate is deeply concerned upon learning that Indian student Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi has been incommunicado since 2nd May. Consulate officials are in touch with the police and the Indian diaspora in hopes of locating or reestablishing contact with Rupesh," the Consulate General of India in Chicago said in a statement.
The Chicago police have issued a statement urging anyone with information about Rupesh Chintakindi's whereabouts to contact the police. According to the statement, he was last seen in the 4300 block of N Sheridan Road.
This comes after another tragic incident involving an Indian student in the United States. Earlier in April, Mohammed Abdul Arfath, an Indian student who had been missing since March, was found dead in Ohio. The Consulate General of India in New York expressed its anguish over his death and is working with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
"Anguished to learn that Mr. Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom a search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mr. Mohammed Arfath's family," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a statement.
Arfath, a native of Hyderabad, had gone to the US for his Master's degree in IT from Cleveland University in May 2023 but had been missing since March 7 this year. His father, Mohd Saleem, revealed that they received a phone call from an unidentified person ten days after his disappearance, claiming that Arfath had been kidnapped and demanding a USD 1200 ransom for his release.
These incidents add to a string of tragedies involving Indian students in the US. In April, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, died under mysterious circumstances, prompting a police investigation.
Earlier in February, an Indian student faced a brutal attack in Chicago. The Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that it was in touch with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as his wife in India, following the incident.
The Consulate General of India in Chicago has urged the Indian community to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety in light of these recent events.