Missing student failed to attend university classes, say police

Srikanth Rayadurgam

The mystery of missing Indian student Srikanth Rayadurgam deepened yesterday as police revealed he had not attended his university classes for several weeks.

Police have also extended their inquiries to Auckland's Karangahape Rd, known for its brothels and sex industry, after cellphone records showed his cellphone was detected in the area late on October 1, the day he disappeared, and early the next morning.

Mr Rayadurgam, 23, disappeared after taking $250 out of a money machine in Queen St.

When his wallet and other personal items were found near Westhaven Marina the next day, police began a search.

They said that until late last week, they had believed he had regularly attended AUT classes. But the last class he attended was on August 17, said Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Aumua.

"This information has obviously been crucial to the investigation and we are appealing to people who may have had contact with him over the past few months to contact us on the operation number, 0800 111-377," Mr Aumua said.

Last week, Mr Aumua said Mr Rayadurgam was committed to his studies at AUT, had no known enemies and did not appear depressed or suicidal.

Mr Aumua said cellphone records showed he was at a Starbucks cafe somewhere in the city at 6.30pm the day he went missing, but the location of that cafe had yet to be confirmed.

"We're also very interested to know if anyone recalls seeing him around the Karangahape Rd area on the evening of Thursday, October 1 and in the early hours of October 2 as his mobile phone was polling in that area occasionally.

"It may be that someone else was in possession of his phone during these times, we don't know at this stage."

Last week, police divers searched the harbour for Mr Rayadurgam but found nothing.

Mr Rayadurgam's family suggested at the weekend that police resources were diverted from his case to the search for 2-year-old Aisling Symes, who vanished from a street in Henderson on Monday last week.

But police rejected the suggestion. They said that as soon as some of his property was found they began searching. Adequate resources, including air and sea searches, had been allocated.

- NZPA