The family of Mirza Ahmed Ali Baig in Santosh Nagar has been on the edge for three weeks, after the 26-year-old disappeared mysteriously from his New York workplace and is yet to be traced.
“We are distraught and helpless. The New Jersey Police’s detectives are investigating but we have been given no information about what may have happened to him. We were unable to go there due to denial of visa,” said Nizam Mukhram Baig, Ahmed’s oldest sibling.
Ahmed went missing after having a telephonic conversation with his mother on July 20.
His family learnt he was being extorted but maintain that the extent of his issue remains unclear. They said Ahmed’s troubles began shortly after he landed in the U.S. in 2015.
He was last spotted at his workplace, an electronic accessories stores in New York City. Ahmed’s family managed to procure a CCTV grab from inside the store that showed him leaving around 1.25 p.m. NY time that day. The family later learnt that investigators traced his phone to New York area.
“We were asked questions about acquaintances and contacts in New York, which seemed linked to the investigation, but we have not got any clue of what the investigation has uncovered so far,” Baig said.
He further said the Baigs had requested the Indian government and its mission in the U.S. to have the investigation expedited, but they have been met with limited response.
“We also went to New Delhi to seek a meeting with M.J. Akbar, the MoS for External Affairs, but failed to do so. We could only leave our representation in the drop-box,” he added.