Search Intensifies for Indian Student Reported Missing in Chicago Since May 2

A 26-year-old student from India has gone missing in Chicago, India's mission in the city said on Monday, amidst reports of a series of disturbing incidents involving Indian students in America. Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi has not been found since May 2, with his last known location being the 4300 block of N. Sheridan Rd, according to the Chicago Police, as reported by PTI.

Deeply concerned, the Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was trying to coordinate with the local police and the Indian diaspora for locating Rupesh. The Consulate, in its post on X, said the matter was extremely urgent and the officials are in touch with relevant authorities.

As of May 6, the police in Chicago have appealed to the public to provide them with any information that might lead to finding Rupesh. In the meantime, the student's father, Sadanandamm, said that the police and the US embassy have been informed about the missing of his son.

Additionally, he reached out to G Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Development of the North Eastern Region of India, seeking assistance in locating Rupesh, as per a TOI report.

This incident adds to a series of troubling cases concerning the safety and security of Indian students in the US. In April, another Indian student missing since March was found dead in Ohio, the Consulate General of India in New York confirmed. Before that, in March, 34-year-old Amarnath Ghosh, a trained classical dancer from India, was shot dead in St. Louis, Missouri, as reported by PTI.

Disturbing episodes are not only reported in the US but have been reported in other countries, such as Australia and the UK, where Indian students have faced threats. Recently, reports came of the stabbing to death of a 22-year-old MTech student in Australia, and two brothers from Karnal in Haryana were taken into custody by Australian police in connection with the murder. All these incidents underline the need for not only the government but the students themselves to take care of their security while pursuing education abroad.