June 5 (Punjab Khabarnama) : Police confirmed on Tuesday that 23-year-old Nitheesha Kandula, who went missing in California last week, has been found safe. The Indian student, originally from Hyderabad, is a California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) student. She reportedly went missing on May 28.
John Guttierez, Chief of Police at CSUSB, issued an update on her search on social media on Tuesday.
Without revealing additional details, he ensured her safety on X/Twitter, “The missing student identified in this bulletin who was reported missing on May 28, 2024, in Los Angeles, has been located and is safe!”
The missing person report states that Kandual was reported missing to the Los Angeles Police Department Southwest Division on May 30. Prior to her disappearance, she was reportedly last seen in Los Angeles, California, on May 28, 2024. The document also states that Kandula was driving a California-licensed Toyota Corolla.
Other hear-rending cases of Indian students reported missing in the US
Nitheesha’s disappearance was an alarming call for the Indian community, with several such cases, and worse, coming to light this year.
Soon after she was reported missing, the police urged people with information on her whereabouts to come forward. Even upon her discovery, the details of her disappearance remain unclear. “#MissingPersonAlert: California State University, San Bernardino Police along with our partners in #LAPD, is asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of @CSUSBNews Nitheesha Kandula, to contact us at: (909) 537-5165,” Chief Guttierez wrote on X/Twitter.
While Kandula was fortunately found in a week’s time, with the police ensuring her safety, other students haven’t been so lucky.
In April, another Indian student hailing from Hyderabad, Mohammed Abdul Arfath, 25, was found dead in Cleveland. Enrolled at Cleveland University, he had been reported missing since March. Additionally, 26-year-old Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi has been missing in Chicago since May 2.
