Missing Purdue Student Found Dead On Campus
NEW YORK, NY (IANS) – Neel Acharya studying at Purdue University has been found dead outside a building on the campus after he went missing last week, the county coroner confirmed.
According to the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office, officials were called around 11.30 a.m. on January 29 to 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette for a possible body. Upon arrival, a “college-aged male” was found deceased outside Maurice J Zucrow Laboratories on Purdue’s campus.
“Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family, and we hope they are respected during such a difficult time,” Coroner Carrie Costello said, adding that an autopsy is due to take place.
According to The Purdue Exponent, the university’s student-run newspaper, Acharya was a double major in computer science and data science at the John Martinson Honors College.
Chris Clifton, the university’s Computer Science head told The Exponent that he received an email from the Office of the Dean of Students confirming Acharya’s death on January 29.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away. My condolences go out to his friends, family, and all affected,” Clifton wrote in an email to the faculty and students. Clifton called Acharya a “driven individual and academically talented”.
Acharya’s friend and roommate, Aryan Khanolkar, told The Exponent that he was a “loving, charismatic soul, and will be cherished by all of us”.
According to Goury Acharya, mother of the deceased, her son was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off at Purdue University.
In a post shared on X, she appealed for help, saying: “Our son Neel Acharya has been missing since yesterday Jan 28. He is studying at Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off at Purdue University. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything”.
In a reply to the post, the Consulate General of India in Chicago said that it is in touch with Purdue University authorities and will extend all possible support and help.
iyer
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These type of news items are now constant now. Hopefully, the Indian community takes stock, do the right thing. This cannot continue to be the norm. How many is too many?
January 30, 2024RAJENDIR K SHARMA
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The reason for these type of events happening is we think there is no violence or mentally sick people in USA. Need to see surrounding with suspicion and prepare for the worse.
January 30, 2024Vijay
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Very tragic news. I wonder what Indian community can do to prevent these most painful events?
January 30, 2024iyer
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Perhaps introduce them to a local Indian community (temple, church, gurudwara, masjid etc), have circle of well vetted circle of friends who are willing to do welfare checks on a regular basis, have an education at the consulate itself in India about dos-donts here. Remember, when immigrating here years ago, my brother took me to skid row and explained this is how the “other america” lives. Now ever city has multiple “skid rows” and add homelessness, mental issues, drugs to the mix and one is facing a toxic challenge to existence.
January 31, 2024Mouli
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Perhaps, alert intending students about these safety issues – and many times life threatening too – even before they leave for US thro’ mass media in India itself so that they become aware and on the guard always. The local universities here can also help by proper orientations before the new students settle down.
January 30, 2024iyer
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Always think about the deceased parents, siblings, relatives in India, what they will be going thru’. Terrible recurrence. May be, India Journal ought to partner with other media outlets to run a special edition before school year (August-September) starts about issues that students might face. Selecting the proper campus, proper dorm. Sometimes getting a cheap apartment may not be a wise move, pennywise and pound foolish scenario.
January 31, 2024Maneck Bhujwala
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Some Universities have Foreign Student Advisors who assign a Host Family to the foreign student. The Host Family provides orientation to the student about American society.
January 31, 2024iyer
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Good to know. Need to remind students to watch their surroundings, watch and carefully select their circle of friends, not stay late beyond 10.30 pm (nothing good happens after that time), follow a good healthy routine.
January 31, 2024