Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Sept 29: It has been endless wait for Manjeet Singh and his family as it is over more than a month now that they are expecting the arrival of their son Surjeet Singh's body, who was murdered by some goons in London, United Kingdom (UK) on the evening of August 26 last.
Surjeet Singh alias Monty, 23, of village Chak Ghour Singh (Tanda), Sujwan, Tehsil and District Samba, pursuing a Hotel Management course in London was murdered in Southall area of the city allegedly by some fellow Indians, who were believed to be the residents of Punjab.
Manjeet and other family members are finding it difficult to come to terms with the loss of their younger son Surjeet and non-arrival of his body for performing the last rites.
Narrating his tale of woes, Manjit Singh said, "The Interpol, New Delhi received a message from Interpol, London on August 27 that Surjeet was murdered on the evening of August 26. We were informed of the incident by Interpol, New Delhi." "The unfortunate news came like a bolt from the blue for all of us… It was a catastrophe for the entire family…. He (Monty) went to London for higher studies in December, 2011…. Monty called up his mother at around 7 on that fateful evening of August 26 and told her that he is absolutely fine. My son told her mother that right now he is enjoying Samosas with tea after paying obeisance in a Gurdwara," he added.
After receiving the information, Manjeet approached the authorities at National Central Bureau (Interpol), New Delhi viz a viz High Commission of India in London and requested them to make arrangements for sending the body of his son to Jammu.
Even the Assistant Director NCB, New Delhi wrote to the High Commission of India, London and urged to liaise with the concerned authorities of UK to arrange to know the present status of the investigations into the murder of Surjeet and also to arrange sending his body to Jammu.
"I tried my level best to secure the return of my deceased son's body ….made requests to Interpol, New Delhi and High Commission of India in London that Monty's body should be preserved and sent back to our native village but to no avail… I even made an offer to bear the expenses for the same…. We are still waiting for the arrival of the corpse…. The delay is tormenting us," said a somber Manjeet.
The long wait with pain and agony attached to it may get over for Manjeet and his family by next month as at last a word of assurance has come from London that Monty's body shall be send soon after finalizing the legal formalities.
The parents are hopeful that they would now be able to get the body of their son and perform his last rites.
"It's been more than a month since my son died but I never lose hope to see the face of my young son for one last time… A ray of hope has emerged as now I have been told that we may get Monty's body by October 10….. I was informed that the London Police has to complete some formalities as it was a murder case…. After a long delay we can now perform last rites and cremate him with our rituals," Manjeet said. |
