Beltangady: The mystery and suspense surrounding the disappearance of Safwan Abubaqer, hailing from Karpadi Puttila in the taluk, soon after landing from a Riyadh flight at the Sahar international airport in Mumbai a few days ago got cleared with the news of his being spotted in a railway station in Maharashtra.
News of his having gone missing was published in these columns and it was widely circulated in the social media. Safwan’s father had fallen prey to unidentified gunmen’s attack in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia about four months ago. His final rites had been held there, since the family found it difficult to have the mortal remains repatriated.
Safwan remained dejected and distressed ever since. His mother kept pressing him, being the eldest son, not to stay in Saudi Arabia any longer but instead pack up and return home. He was arriving on a holiday via Mumbai on Feb 22. His family members back home were shocked that he had failed to arrive by the connecting flight to Mangaluru.
The CCTV cameras at the Sahar airport showed him walking towards the rickshaw park all alone with only his handbag, while his pieces of luggage, which he had earlier collected from the conveyor belt, were found abandoned inside the premises.
This had added to the mystery. There were so many stories over this episode making rounds. Some persons from Maddadka and Karpadi, currently residing in Mumbai, are said to have spotted him in a railway station and informed his family and also notified the police.
The family members rushed to Mumbai and confirmed his identity and are now currently in the process of bringing him back to Beltangady.
Safwan was in a low state of mind and confusion after the death of his father and, after landing in Mumbai, is said to have roamed from one railway station to the other for some days. He was fortunately spotted by some well-wishers of his family.
The family members are now relieved after he was traced.
