Indian-origin man's body found floating in river in New York

New York, April 16

The body of a 31-year-old Indian-origin man working with cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence was found floating in the Hudson River here, according to a media report which said he was battling apparent mental illness.

Shuvro Biswas’ body was found floating in the Hudson River on Monday, the New York Post reported.

Police sources said that there were no immediate apparent signs of foul play.

Shuvro’s brother said that he and his family were gutted by the news, noting that they had tried in vain to help Shuvro as he battled apparent mental illness.

“We’re all extremely devastated,” Biprojit Biswas, 34, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

“He’s a really good guy. He’s brilliant,” he said.

Biprojit said his sibling was self-employed and most recently was working on a cryptocurrency security programme. Online profiles show that Shuvro also dabbled in artificial intelligence.

He said the family started to see changes in Shuvro’s demeanour over the past year, but that he largely kept his struggles to himself.

Shuvro’s family urged him to talk to someone.

“We tried to convince him to the best of our abilities to seek professional help, but he always denied that he needed psychiatric help,” said Biprojit.

“He was going to a neurologist but he wouldn’t say for what,” he said.

According to the report, in February, the management of Shuvro’s West 37th Street apartment building took him to Manhattan Supreme Court, seeking to evict him over a slew of alleged bizarre acts inside the building, including setting fires, openly brandishing a knife and smearing blood inside the elevator, court filings show.

“Defendant is a ticking time bomb who, just months into the lease, has engaged in numerous incidents of escalating, offensive nuisance-type conduct that threatens the lives, health, safety and well-being of Building staff, Building residents and Building property,” lawyers for the building wrote in one filing.

The filing claimed that Biswas had intentionally set a mattress on fire in his unit—while leaving an open propane tank in the apartment.

He also allegedly brandished a knife, smeared blood in the building elevator, illegally installed surveillance cameras and an alarm system, scattered bullets throughout the building and filed multiple false reports of intruders with the police—one of which saw him greet responding officers by “brandishing a sword,” according to the filing.

Shuvro had explained the arson allegation as a cooking fire.

The city Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death. PTI