Police in Leicestershire have released new CCTV footage showing a missing university student running down a road in the hours before he vanished over two weeks ago.
Family's desperate plea for safe return
Aryan Sharma, a 20-year-old robotics student, was last seen in the early hours of Saturday, November 23. He left his accommodation in Loughborough at around 9.30pm and was last spotted walking towards Stanford-on-the-Soar. The newly released video shows him jogging along a road on the outskirts of the town at approximately 12.30am.
His family have issued a heartfelt appeal, stating they are 'devastated' and just want him found safe. In a direct message to Aryan, his cousin Jagi Sawhney said: 'We want him to know how loved he is. He is a loved grandson, son and uncle. Everyone is rallying around to try and find him.'
The family's concern is heightened by the cold weather and the fact no one has spoken to him since Friday, November 22. 'We just want him to be okay, and we want him to come home to his mum,' Mr Sawhney added.
Extensive police search operation underway
Detectives are carrying out extensive enquiries to trace Aryan's movements from that night. They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a man matching his description between 12.15am and 2am on November 23 in the Meadow Lane or Stanford Lane areas.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Dickens appealed to the public: 'Did you see a man matching Aryan's description wearing a long black trench coat walking along the road in the early hours? Did you see or capture anything that could assist us?'
A major search operation involving multiple resources is ongoing. This includes:
- Trained search officers and police dogs
- Drones and the National Police Air Service
- Police divers
- Specialist volunteers from Leicestershire Search and Rescue
Description and public appeal
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 black trench coat, shorts, and black trainers with a white trim.
Police are urging anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact them immediately to help establish where Aryan went after he was captured on camera.
The family, police, and community continue their urgent efforts to locate the missing student, hoping for his safe return.
