Mangaluru: White Doves Reunites Mohammed from Hubli with his Family

Mangaluru: Mohammed Ghouse Bijapur, hailing from Hubli, had landed in the city two and a half years ago and lived away from his near and dear ones. He was finally united with his family on June 15.

Speaking to mangalorean.com, founder of “White Doves” Corrine Rasquinha said, “On February 18, 2013, we found a man near Canara School in a very pitiable state. We picked him from there and brought him to the White Doves home. Since then he was staying with us. He showed special interest in working. The MSW students from M V Shetty College, Nagaraj and Ibrahim have been assigned to White Doves for field work over the past year. While interacting with Mohammed, we came to know that he was from Hubli. On June 6, both Nagaraj and Ibrahim had gone on holidays to their hometown which also happened to Hubli. I had requested them to find out Mohammed’s family background and they succeeded in finding his home people”.

Speaking to mangalorean.com, Nagaraj said that he and his batch-mate while having gone to their hometown, spent a week with their family members. They decided to trace Mohammed’s family in Hubli. On June 14, they went around crowded places and showed Mohammed’s photographs to the people to find out his family members.

After seeing the photograph, some villagers recognized him and that the two students to Mohammed’s house. They visited it and informed the family members about Mohammed being in Mangaluru. They were so overwhelmed to hear that he was alive.

After identifying the photograph, they went to Kasaba Peth police station Hubli to confirm whether they have any missing person’s complaint registered or not. After seeing the files, the police confirmed that Mohammed was missing since February 18, 2013.

Speaking to our correspondent, Mohammed’s aunt Khatun-bi said, “For the past 12 years Mohammed (36) was on medication. He is married and has a son. But his wife stopped staying with him because of his ill health. My sister, Makhtum-bi, Mohammed’s mother, died in 2011, but Mohammed did not cry. When he was feeling scared, he was coming to my house, where my children used to take care of him. Sometimes he used to cry loudly and pelt stones at others. He was also ready to do petty jobs if they offered him Pan Parag. One fine day, after 2 years of his mother’s death, he disappeared from home. We filed a missing person’s complaint in Kasaba Peth police station but the police were unable to trace him. We thought that he might have died, but now we have found him alive. I can’t believe that my nephew is alive. I would be happy to see him alive and long to meet him”.

Speaking to mangalorean.com, Mohammed said, “I will go to Hubli, meet my family members and come back to Mangaluru White Doves. I love to stay here in White Doves because of the love and care they show towards me”.

Head constable of Kasaba Peth police station Raju Cholin accompanied Mohammed’s nephew and aunt from Hubli, as there was a missing person’s case registered in the police station. After completing the procedures, Mohammed was sent away with the family members.

Before leaving White Doves, Mohammed hugged all his friends and assured them to be back soon.