11 Indian-origin students dead in US in 2024, diaspora body tells why

Many Indian students dream of studying in the United States. It represents a chance to gain world-class education and career opportunities. However, there are factors that could turn the American Dream into a nightmare for Indian students. The spike in deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US highlights these risks.

The body of an Indian-origin student, who was missing for a month, was found in Ohio on Tuesday (April 9). This takes the number of deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US in 2024 to 11. And we are just in the fourth month of the year.

There is a desire among Indians for education abroad, especially in the US. This has also become a blessing for American universities.

Nowadays, Indian students are increasingly choosing to study at US universities, creating a boom for American Universities.

The number of Indian students in the US has skyrocketed, with a staggering 35% increase in enrolment for the academic year 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

In the US, Indian-origin students are around 275,000 and make 25% of total foreign students and bringing in $9 billion per year in terms of fees and expenses, according to the Open Doors Report.

A yearning for better career prospects drives this trend.

EDUCATION IN THE US AT WHAT COST?

Indian students believe that a US degree unlocks doors to higher-paying jobs, but at what cost?

Recent deaths of Indian students in the US have raised safety concerns.

Since the beginning of the year 2024, the Indian students’ news of death has been becoming louder. The Indian students became the victim of violent attacks, whether the attacks were for money or personal reasons.

In a very recent case, Mohammad Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old Indian-origin student, missing for a month, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday.

This took the number of deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US this year to 11, a stunning number.

REASONS BEHIND DEATHS OF INDIAN STUDENTS IN US

A prominent diaspora body has found out the reasons behind the deaths and has asked various agencies of the US government, universities and student associations to work towards addressing the spike in the deaths of Indian-origin students in the US in recent months.

Lakshmi Thalanki from Boston, who collected data on the deaths of more than 10 students, noted, “The sudden surge of deaths among Indian students is alarming and suspicious,” reported news agency PTI.

An analysis by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) found the causes of these incidents range from suspicious shootings/kidnapping, environmental deaths due to lack of safety knowledge (monoxide poisoning, hypothermia), mental issues triggering suicides, and even suspicious accidents to violent crimes.

Since the sudden rise in suspicious deaths, rumours have been circulating around the Indian American community about potential hate crimes, especially as many deaths are clustered around East and Midwest universities, especially in Cleveland in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

Days before the body of Mohammad Abdul Arfath was found, another Indian-origin student was found dead.

Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student, died in Ohio’s Cleveland in April. A police investigation into the death is underway.

Before Gadde’s case, there had been several similar incidents that deeply affected communities in the US and in India.

NOTABLE CASES OF INDIAN STUDENTS’ DEATH IN THE US

In 2024, students of Indian-American descent met with untimely deaths under various circumstances.

All students are 25 years old and under.

A student from Andhra Pradesh who was studying engineering at Boston University was down to death by some unidentified assailants.

The body of Paruchuri Abhijit, 20, was found in a car in a campus forest. It is believed that the attacker had attacked him for his money and laptop.

Vivek Saini (25), an Indian student, was tragically killed in Georgia on January 3. Saini, a master’s student in computer science at the University of West Georgia, was working at a convenience store when a drug addict attacked him. The attacker, Julian Faulkner, attacked Saini with a hammer 50 times.

Two Indian students named Gattu Dinesh and Nikesh, both in their early twenties, were found dead at their home in Connecticut on January 14. They had arrived in the US on January 21 to pursue further studies. According to media accounts, their deaths were attributed to a gas leak.

A Purdue University student named Neel Acharya, 22, was found dead on January 17. He studied mechanical engineering. His mother reported him missing, but sadly he was found dead a few hours later. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Akul Dhawan, a 21-year-old Indian-American student, was found dead near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on January 20. He was in his third year of studying computer engineering. The coroner’s report from the autopsy indicated that he likely passed away due to hypothermia as the Night Club denied entry.

Shreyas Reddy Benigeri, a 19-year-old Indian-American student, was found dead in his dormitory at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio on February 1. He was a first-year student studying finance.

Another Indian-American student from Purdue University, Sameer Kamath, 25, was found dead in a nature preserve on February 5. He was pursuing a doctorate in mechanical engineering. He had completed his master’s degree in the same field from Purdue University in August 2023.

CONCERNS OVER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS

The spate of deaths has cast a spotlight on the safety and well-being of Indian students in the US, who often face high expectations from their families and themselves.

Beyond these deaths, Indian students may face bias-motivated incidents too. Hate crimes and acts of discrimination, including racial slurs and vandalism, can be a concern. Gun violence, a complex issue in the US, can also be a source of anxiety for students.

A 23-year-old Indian student named Syed Mazahir Ali was attacked by four armed robbers close to his residence in Chicago on February 4. He sustained severe injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Ali was pursuing a degree in computer science at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Though the deaths can’t be attributed right away to racial or religious discrimination, they come amid a rise in Hinduphobia, which has been flagged by Indian-origin lawmakers in the US.

Recently, in a meeting held in the US Capitol where Shri Thanedar spoke about the rising concern of Hinduphobia.

Other leaders in the meeting also spoke about Hinduphobia. Suhag Shukla, representing the Hindu American Foundation, highlighted the prevalence of anti-Hindu bias, particularly on college campuses. She pointed to a recent rise in hate crimes and a lack of familiarity with Hinduism among law enforcement.

Tejal Shah of the Hindu Temple Empowerment Council spoke about the emotional distress caused by recent attacks on Hindu temples.

Though there is no evidence right now to link the deaths of the students to discrimination, the diaspora body raises suspicion that some of them could be hate crimes.

In several cases, the reasons for the deaths of the Indian-origin students aren’t clear. And the recent spate of tragedies involving Indian students in the US paints a concerning picture.

From violent attacks to unexplained deaths, these incidents have shaken the sense of security for Indian students pursuing their educational dreams.

This alarming trend, coupled with rising hate crimes and gun violence, raises serious concerns about the safety of young Indian people on American streets.

Urgent action is needed to address these issues and ensure the well-being of all international students in the US. Preventive action, as suggested by the prominent Indian diaspora body, is the need of the hour.