Indian Student Archives - Lokmarg

Indian Student Goes Missing In Ohio, Family Seeks MEA’s Help

By LokMarg 21st March 2024

A 25-year-old Indian student has gone missing from the Cleveland area of the US, following which his family has urged the External Affairs Ministry to find their son after receiving a “ransom call.”

Mohammed Abdul Arafat, a native of Hyderabad, went to the US for his masters in IT from Cleveland University in May 2023 but has been missing since March 7, 2024.

His father, Mohd Saleem, said that after ten days, they received a phone call where the person was saying that their son (Abdul Arafat) had been kidnapped and asked for a USD 1200 ransom.

“My son went to the US on May 23 for his master’s. He was doing fine and was talking to me every day. After March 7, we didn’t talk. We tried calling, but the phone was off. Later, we called our brother and asked him to see. As my son was not at the location, they went and filed a missing complaint. After 10 days, we got a call on WhatsApp, that your son was kidnapped and asked for a USD 1200 ransom. I urge the state government and central government to find my son,” Saleem said.

Saleem’s brother, who also lives in the US, filed a missing person complaint with the police.

Saleem urged the state and central government to find their son.

Today, Arafat’s father, Mohd Saleem, went to the Nacharam police station, explained the whole incident to the police, and asked for their help in the matter.

Moreover, Saleem also wrote a letter to the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, requesting that they ask the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, USA and the Indian Consulate in Chicago, USA about his son.

“Missing of my son Mohammed Abdul Arfath from Cleveland, Ohio State, USA- Req-Reg.

This is to state that my son Mohammed Abdul Arfath resident of H No: 4-2-88/24/2A Ambedkar Nagar, Nacharam, Medchal, Malkajgiri District in Telangana State holder of Indian Passport No: U9815651 went to pursue Masters in IT from Cleveland University during May 2023 and was staying 1700 East 13th Street, 23L Cleveland, Oh44114 and last spoke to me from +14406617965 on 7th March 2024 and since then he is not in touch with us. It is requested to ask the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, USA and Indian Consulate in Chicago, USA,” he stated in his letter to EAM Jaishankar.

Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan took to his social media X, detailing the incident.

“Mohammed Abdul Arfath from Malkajgiri District in Telangana State persuing Masters in IT from from Cleveland University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA is not in touch with his family since 7th March 2024, his father Mohd Saleem appeals @DrSJaishankar for help in locating his son, All details attached,” he stated. (ANI)

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First Indian To Head Students’ Union Bares Dark Side Of Oxford Univ

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

After scripting history by becoming first Indian to be elected as the President of the Oxford Student Union (SU), Rashmi Samant has now come out with a tell-all book, the baring the dark side of an inistution that is spoken of in glowing terms across the world.

In her book, titled ‘A Hindu in Oxford,’ Samant detailed her harrowing experience of being allegedly targeted and singled by her professors at the university, claiming that they questioned her holding the office of president citing her religious and ethnic backgrounds.

To questions about racism that natives often have to experience on foreign shores, Samant said “Bharatiya students” face a lot of discrimination and hatred which is not discussed openly in public and neither are the victims and silent sufferers given any platform to bring their concerns into the public domain.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, she said when she stepped down from her post in February of 2021, the matter would have reached the stage of “conviction” (for the professors she accused of harassment and the university authorities) “if they had not found somebody who looked an Indian to take over (from her)”.

On her successor Avnee Bhutani saying Rashmi didn’t face any discrimination on grounds of her nationality and ethnicity, she said, “Avnee is doing a disservice to the movement (on campus) by playing down the trauma that somebody else has lived through.”

“She has no proof to back her claim. It was an act to defame me and to play down the seriousness of racism abroad for ulterior motives. During the British era also we saw a lot of people from Bharitya origin who used to defend the British as it was something positive for the Indian people. All they are doing is lying and lapping up to the expectations of the British,” she said.

Asked if Indians in the UK could look forward to a brighter future, sans racism, with an Indian-origin Prime Minister in Rishi Sunak at the helm, she said, “Our people are fighters and Sunak, too, became the Prime Minister after overcoming serious odds. However, he earned the respect and trust of fellow politicians and world leaders and is now working to take the country forward with full support of the people.”

“Our people are treated very badly and are always discriminated against. We never take it as an excuse not to excel. We do not cry. We do not become crybabies. Instead, we fight it and give it back to their face,” she said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising or enhancing India’s global position and prestige through his leadership, Rashmi heaped praise on him for making the African Union a permanent member of the G20 at the recent summmit in the national capital, New Delhi.

She said PM Modi has stepped up to being a global leader by giving countries that are seldom spoken of the recognition they truly deserve.

“Finally, we have a seat with the Western countries. America and the UK respect us, Canada fears us, and we have great relations with Europe. What we often neglect to see is how Modi ji has also brought the African Union. That is the mark of a true leader who is willing to uplift so many. We should take pride in that we took G20 to G21,” she said.

On whether she will consider joining politics, she said service holds utmost importance in her life and she would be happy to serve people in any role.

“I don’t mind doing it in any way, being an author, commentator, writing about it, speaking about it. That is of utmost importance for me,” she added. (ANI)

Indian student stabbed In Oz

By LokMarg 14th October 2022

Indian authorities are in close touch with local authorities in Australia and with the family of the student who was stabbed multiple times in Sydney and have requested expediting travel documents and visas for his family members to travel to Australia.

“We’ve knowledge of the incident. As per our information, he’s in hospital and under treatment. Our High Commission in Canberra and Consulate in Sydney is in close touch with local authorities. We’re in contact with the family, ” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a weekly media briefing here today.
Bagchi said that some of the officials from India had met the injured student in the hospital in Sydney and “we have extended our consular services.”

“We have also come to know that a suspect was taken into custody. Australian authorities will give you more details on the investigation. Our expectation is that it’s seen seriously and action taken against the perpetrators,” the spokesperson said.

The 28-year-old student, Shubham Garg who hails from Agra and is pursuing his doctorate in Mechanical engineering from the University of NSW, was reportedly stabbed multiple times in Sydney’s Artamon by 27-year-old Daniel Norwood, who according to local media reports has been arrested and is in the custody of the Australian Police.

The Indian mission in Australia is providing consular assistance to Garg, who is in “serious but stable” condition after undergoing surgery at a local hospital.

“The Indian Consulate in Sydney has provided consular assistance to the individual,” the Australian High Commission in New Delhi said adding that it assists with the facilitation of a visa for a family member of the injured student.

The accused Daniel Norwood was arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with one count of attempted murder, reported local media outlet The Australia Today.

Quoting local media reports the outlet said that the incident occurred around 10.30 pm on October 6, when Garg was walking along the Pacific Highway on his way back to his residence.

Garg suffered multiple stabbing injuries on his face, chest, and abdomen. A nearby resident took Garg to Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent surgery. Garg remains in a “serious but stable condition,” as per the media report.

Following the incident, the North Shore Police Area Command detectives formed Strike Force Prosy to investigate the incident. Later, a search warrant was executed on a home on the Pacific Highway at Greenwich at about 3.40 pm on October 9.

The suspect Norwood was arrested at the scene and to further investigate the matter, the police seized a number of items from the home. The items were sent for forensic examination.

Norwood appeared in Hornsby Local Court however he was denied bail. He continues to remain in custody with the next court appearance on December 14, 2022.

As per reports, Norwood allegedly threatened Garg while demanding cash and his phone. Garg refused and was allegedly stabbed a number of times in the abdomen. The assailant then fled from the crime scene, reported Australia Today.

Garg arrived in Australia in September this year to pursue his Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering from the University of NSW. He has completed his master’s degree at IIT Madras. (ANI)