Bhatkal, September 23: Seven members of a Bhatkal-based family including two women, a minor girl and four children have gone missing under unusual circumstances after visiting Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
The missing persons have been identified Bibi Fathima (25), wife of Imran Mashayik, a resident of Bhatkal Maghdum Colony, their children Irfan Mashayik (4) and Khadija Amreen (4 months); Fathima's sister Salma Sayyada Afsar (23) and the latter's children Sayyad Sabir Afsar (4) and Sayyada Basheera (2); and their relative Sayyada Hajibee alias Nanni (15).
The mysterious missing case has triggered suspicion and panic in the town of Bhatkal. Some people have even expressed fear that a gang of kidnappers might have abducted the travelling family.
According to Imran Mashayik, on September 1 all the seven members had been to Vijayawada, where Fathima's parents lived. They had left together in a hurry without any adult male member after receiving information that Fathima's mother Shakeela was not well.
After staying back more than a week in Vijayawada, they had left for Bhatkal on September 11 and were supposed to reach home the next day. It is learnt that they left by a train to Hubli and were planning to come to Bhatkal by bus from Hubli.
However, when they did not reach home even after two days, Mashayik informed Andhra Police. Based on his statement, a case was registered in Vijayawada II Town Police Station.
Mashayik said that he could not even contact the travelling family over phone after they boarded the train, as the mobiles of Fathima and Salma were switched off for the past 12 days.
Speaking to 'Coastaldigest.com' over the phone, Inspector Shivprasad from Vijayawada said that police were investigating the matter from all angles. He hoped that the missing family would be traced soon.
Comments
Add new comment