25-year Hyderabad boy kidnapped in Cleveland, USA, for a ransom of $ 1,200

HYDERABAD: Even as a student belonging to the City Abdul Mohammed went missing in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, his father began getting calls with demand for a ransom of USD 1,200.

Abdul Mohammed went to the USA for an MS in IT in Cleveland University in May 2023. Though he has been in touch with his family regularly, he went out of contact since March 7.

Abdul Mohammed’s father, Mohammed Saleem, received a call from someone claiming to have kidnapped his son and the caller demanded a sum of USD 1,200 as ransom. Saleem lives in Nacharam in Hyderabad. The call came from an unidentified number. The callers claimed that Adbdul Mohammed was kidnapped by a gang of drug peddlers in Cleveland, Oh, USA.

The callers had said that Abdul Mohammed would be released if a ransom of USD 1,200 were paid.

However, they did not mention the method of payment as to which account would be the recipient of the said ransom. Also, the callers threatened that his son’s kidney would be harvested and sold if the ransom was not paid.

Abdul Mohammed’s relatives in the USA were alerted by his father and they, in turn, lodged a complaint with the police. The Cleveland police issued a lookout notice for the kidnappers.

Saleem told media that the caller did not divulge the information that corroborated to the claim of kidnap of his son and that he was under their custody. Stating that he could hear someone crying before the caller began speaking, but couldn’t identify if it’s his son, Saleem said that his son was last sighted on 1700 E, Street 13, in Cleveland and was sporting a white T-shirt, red jacket and blue jeans. His son is 5’8” tall. The callers number was also sent to the relatives living in Washington DC for them to alert the police.

Abdul’s family urged the Consul-General of India in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to help trace the missing boy. However, the small amount of ransom is giving rise to suspicion.