A major multi-agency search operation is continuing for a 20-year-old university student from the Midlands who vanished without a trace last month.
Extensive Search Operation Underway
Aryan Sharma, a student at Loughborough University, was last seen leaving his property in the town at 9.20pm on Friday, November 21. He was later captured on CCTV walking in the early hours of the following day, Saturday, November 22.
At approximately 12.30am, he was seen on camera in Meadow Lane, near the Brush site, walking towards the Stanford on Soar area just outside Loughborough. This is the last confirmed sighting of the young man.
Family's Heartfelt Plea for His Return
Speaking on behalf of the devastated family, Aryan's cousin, Jagi Sawhney, made an emotional appeal for his safe return. "We are devastated as a family," she said. "We just want to find him safe. He's loved by this family."
She described Aryan as an older brother, a cousin, and one of five boys in the family. "Our biggest concern now is that no one in the family has spoken to him since at least Friday," Jagi added, highlighting the freezing temperatures since his disappearance. "We just want him to be okay, and we want him to come home to his mum."
The family urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact the police. "If Aryan sees this, we want him to know how loved he is," his cousin stated.
Police Deploy Specialist Teams and Divers
Leicestershire Police have launched a significant investigation, deploying extensive resources across the Loughborough and Stanford on Soar areas. The search effort includes:
- Uniformed officers and detectives.
- The force drone unit and the National Police Air Service (NPAS).
- Leicestershire Police search-trained officers.
- Leicestershire Search and Rescue volunteers.
Specialist divers have been conducting searches of a stretch of the River Soar, between Meadow Lane and Cotes, as part of the ongoing operation.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Dickens, leading the investigation, appealed to the public for help. "We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen Aryan since last Friday evening," he said.
He specifically asked residents and businesses to check personal CCTV systems and vehicle dashcams for any sightings in key areas between 12.15am on Saturday, November 22, onwards. The locations of interest include Meadow Lane, Stanford on Soar, Cotes, Barrow Upon Soar, and Prestwold.
Description of Missing Student
Aryan is described as an Asian male, 5ft 5ins tall, with a slim build and collar-length black hair. When last seen, he was wearing a distinctive black calf-length leather-style trench coat, shorts, and black trainers with a white trim.
Anyone with information is urged to call Leicestershire Police on 101, quoting incident number 208 of November 23.
