“Srikanth is somewhere, needing help”

A missing Indian student causes concern

More than ten days after he went missing, a young Indian student’s family in India and New Zealand believes that “he could be somewhere lost, needing help.”

Twenty-three year old Srikanth Rayadurgam left his home in Mt Albert around 115 pm on October 1 and never returned.

Since his arrival in Auckland in February this year to pursue a graduate course in Hospitality Management at the AUT University, Srikanth had endeared himself to his immediate family comprising sister Padma Priya, brother-in-law Nagesh Kakanoor, their two sons Rohit and Ankit, a small circle of friends and colleagues at the Shahi Restaurants (Ponsonby, Parnell and Dominion Road) and Pizza Hut Glenfield, where he did part time work.

When he did not return home until 10 pm, a worried Mr Kakanoor started calling him on his mobile and sending text messages. After three hours of anxiety, he complained to the Police (around 1 am) that the young man was missing.

“Srikanth has never done anything or gone anywhere without informing us. This is totally out of character,” Mr Kakanoor said.

According to available information, Srikanth did not attend University on October 1 but withdrew $250 from a National Bank ATM machine on Queen Street at 217 pm.

The next morning, a young woman found a wallet containing $10 cash, a calling card and other items, which were identified as belonging to Srikanth. Mr Kakanoor later found his mobile phone, unlaced left shoe and a backpack on Currant Street, towards the end of the Westhaven Marina.

“I handed over to the Police these personal effects and provided all the information that I could obtain about Srikanth. I requested them to send divers to search the Westhaven Marina. I wanted them to find him as soon as possible,” he said.

But it was not until seven days later that the diving team could do their job.

An earlier assignment of the team was called off and diverted to search two-year-old Aisling Symes who went missing from her West Auckland home on October 5.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Joseph (Joe) Aumua, who is in charge of the case, said that an expert diving team searched the area on October 7 for more than seven hours in both high and low tides without success.

“We are doing our best to resolve this case. We have done an aerial search and scanned the closed circuit television footage of the area but found nothing,” he told Indian Newslink.

A number of questions remained unanswered as we went to press.

“Where could Srikanth have gone after he withdrew cash from the ATM?

“What happened to the money ($250)? Did he spend it after withdrawal? If yes, on what? Were any inquiries made in the neighbouring shops?

“Why were his personal effects found along the Westhaven Harbour when there was no reason for him to go to that area?

“If he was mugged or attacked, why was the wallet found intact with $10 and other items that can identify him?

“Police investigations show that there were no messages or calls received or sent from his mobile after 1150 am on October 1. What does this mean?”

“Srikanth wore a gold and platinum chain, a gold bracelet and a DKNY stainless steel wristwatch all of which was valued at $4000. Could this have been the reason for his disappearance?

We interviewed his friends Bharat Kurella and Vikhyat Jonnada with whom Srikanth spent much of his spare time.

They confirmed that the young man was affable and led a simple, trouble-free life.

“He is not the type to just go anywhere on his own. He was into neither gambling nor nightclubs. This is extremely strange, “they said.

Indian Newslink is assisting the Police and Srikanth’s family in finding the young man who mysteriously disappeared on October 1.

If you have any information that may assist in finding him, please call Detective Sergeant Joseph (Joe) Aumua at the Avondale Police Station on (09) 8205748 or Nagesh Kakanoor on (09) 8466156 or 021-870441.