Ahmedabad: A family from Ahmedabad has appealed for urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat government after their 23-year-old sona medical student in Georgia, disappeared 12 days ago amid allegations of molestation by his landlord and roommates.
Dhvanit Rajdeep, a resident of Virat Nagar in Ahmedabad, was studying medicine in the ninth semester at the International University of the Caucasus. According to his family, he was last in touch with them on May 14 before his phone suddenly disconnected and has remained switched off ever since.
Speaking to IANS, his father, Dr Mayur Kumar Rajdeep, claimed this Dhvanit had faced constant mental harassment in the rented apartment where he had been staying.
“Dhvanit was studying medicine in his ninth semester in Georgia. He had recently rented an apartment belonging to a local Georgian resident. His roommates were mentally harassing him in various ways — removing his tiffin, not letting him study and creating various disturbances,” he said.
He further claimed that after his son decided to move to another flat and had already moved some of his belongings, tensions escalated.
“My son had moved half of his belongings to a flat the day before. But after that, Anil (his flatmate) started threatening him. He was told that they knew where he was moving and would come there and kill him. He also received death threats through text messages. After that Anil demanded money from my son,” he said.
There is no access to the phone
Dr Rajdeep claimed that Dhvanit later returned to the previous flat to collect the remaining belongings and return the keys.
“He went there to give money, collect his belongings and hand over the key. He was harassed there too. Finally, he called me and told me that despite giving money, he was still being harassed,” he said.
The family also alleged that Dhvani was forced to transfer around $6,500 from his account while locked in a room and denied access to his phone.
Dr Rajdeep said they informed Indian embassy officials and university authorities immediately after losing contact with him.
“We have immediately informed the Indian embassy and university authorities. Our elder son has also traveled to Georgia to look for him,” he added.
Dhwani’s mother, Dharmishtha Rajdeep, made an emotional appeal to the authorities.
“I last spoke to my son on the 13th. The next day, he spoke to my husband. When I spoke to him, he told me that he had reached the new apartment with his luggage. We last had contact on the 14th. Since then, we have not had any communication. I only ask the government to take up this matter with the Georgian government,” she said.
“Our only demand is that my son should return soon. He was a scholar and worked hard. He was supposed to return in September after completing his medical degree. I humbly request the Gujarat government to bring my son back as soon as possible,” she added.
The family said Dhwani’s elder brother, Mihir Rajdeep, has reached Georgia from Canada and has been coordinating with police and university officials there.
According to the family, despite assistance from the Indian Embassy and contacts from local political leaders, they have not received any concrete updates so far and claim that the police and local administration in Georgia have not taken sufficient action against those named in the complaint.
With no trace of the student nearly two weeks after he went missing, the family has now asked the Center and the Gujarat government to intensify diplomatic efforts and ensure his safe return.
