Investigation Underway for Missing Indian Student in Dominican Republic
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student, is missing in the Dominican Republic since March 6. A 24-year-old man, Joshua Riibe, has been identified as a person of interest but not a suspect. Authorities are collaborating with U.S. federal agencies in the ongoing investigation.
U.S. authorities have identified a 24-year-old man as a person of interest in the case of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student who has gone missing in the Dominican Republic. Sudiksha, a permanent resident of the United States, was last seen on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana, during a vacation with college friends. Federal law enforcement agencies are collaborating with Dominican authorities to locate her.
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, which is her hometown, the individual, named Joshua Riibe, was seen with Sudiksha prior to her disappearance. Despite this, spokesperson Chad Quinn clarified that the investigation is not criminal in nature and that Riibe is not considered a suspect. Quinn stated, “This particular individual may have been the last one to have seen her, so is of particular interest.”
Konanki was on vacation with five friends when she was last observed on the beach. Surveillance footage captured the group leaving the beach around 6 AM on March 6, with indications that she remained behind with Riibe. Quinn noted that Riibe was not part of her traveling group and is reported to be a U.S. citizen vacationing in Punta Cana.
Riibe, originally from Rock Rapids, Iowa, is a current student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Sudiksha’s family, residing near Washington, D.C., has voiced concerns regarding the investigation’s focus. Her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, urged authorities to consider other scenarios, including possible kidnapping or abduction, instead of assuming she drowned.
As part of the ongoing investigation, local police and the FBI are reviewing the case. “A number of people have been interviewed by the Dominican National Police with the assistance of the FBI,” Quinn confirmed. Sudiksha’s belongings, including her phone and wallet, were reportedly left with her friends, raising additional concerns about her disappearance. The Dominican Republic National Police has announced it will establish a “high-level commission” to oversee the investigation and will reinterview key individuals connected to the case.
In summary, the investigation into the disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is ongoing, with a person of interest, Joshua Riibe, identified but not suspected of criminal activity at this time. Authorities are coordinating with federal agencies in the United States and reinterviewing individuals connected to the case. Sudiksha’s family continues to seek a broader investigation into her disappearance beyond the initial assumptions of drowning.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
