PM to help trace missing Indian student

Srikanth Rayadurgam: Help us find this young man missing from his Auckland home since October 1, 2009

Prime Minister John Key has assured all support and assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Indian student Srikanth Rayadurgam.

At a chance meeting with Nagesh Kakanoor, brother-in-law of Srikanth on October 12, Mr Key said he understood the agony that the family has been enduring since the 23-year-old AUT University Hospitality student went missing on October 1.

“I will request the New Zealand Police to double their efforts,” Mr Key said.

Despite a nationwide Police alert, nothing was known about the missing young man by the time we went to print this edition.

Srikanth had reportedly withdrawn $250 from the National Bank ATM on (205) Queen Street about an hour after he left home but the money was missing from his wallet, which was seen and reported by a young cyclist the following morning.

Indian Newslink has been coordinating efforts with Mr Kakanoor, sister Padma Priya and their friends, the New Zealand Police, the Indian High Commission, Members of Parliament and community leaders since he was listed missing.

Detective Sergeant Joseph Aumua, who is in charge of this case, said he and his team of officers are doing their best to find the missing young man.

However, Mr Kakanoor suspects foul play, saying that it was out of character for the 23-year-old student to be away from home without informing them in advance or contacting them thereafter.

The mental state of the family, comprising the couple and their two children for the past two weeks has also been a source of concern.

Since his arrival in February on a Student Permit, Srikanth has been staying with his sister and family in their Mt Albert home.

“He has always been a cheerful and caring brother. He would discuss personal and work-related matters with me and I cannot believe that he would have left home without even informing us,” Padma Priya told Indian Newslink.

Mr Kakanoor said he could not understand why the Police were not keeping him informed of us their efforts to trace Srikanth.

“While they have poured enormous resources to find two-year-old Aisling Symes who went missing from her West Auckland home on October 5, there appears to be little interest in my brother-in-law’s case,” he said.

But District Commander George Fraser, Acting Western Area Commander Inspector Mike McDonald, Sergeant Aumua and other police officials have told this reporter that none of them showed any laxity in solving the case of the missing young man.

They said they were following a few leads and that they would contact Mr Kakanoor should they have anything to report.

Anyone with any information about Srikanth, his whereabouts, where he was seen should contact Sergeant Aumua at the Avondale Police Station on (09) 8205748.