HITTING THE DEAD END: MEN WHO NEVER RETURNED FROM MOSUL

Four-year wait for families of men from Punjab (27) and Himachal Pradesh (4), among 39 Indians, who went missing in Iraq in 2014, ended abruptly as govt said they are dead. The families recount the last time they spoke to their kin. While many of them downplayed the war, others asked family to take care of themselves

DAVINDER SINGH, 45

from Chak Des Raj in Phillaur (Jalandhar) Work: Steel fitter

Last Conversation: June 15, 2014, Davinder informed his wife Manjit Kaur that some people had abducted him and other workers, and they were being kept hostage. Survived By: Wife, three sons

PARVINDER KUMAR, 35

from Jagatpur village in Nawanshahr Work: Labourer Last Conversation: He called up to tell his wife Anju that he was fine early June, 2014.

Survived By: Wife, 6-year-old son

KULWINDER SINGH, 29

from Khanke village in Kartarpur, Jalandhar Work: Carpenter

Last Conversation: They did not have any contact ever since he left for Iraq in April 2014

Survived By: Wife, and twins, a son and daughter

ROOP LAL, 40

from Baath Kalan village in Nakodar, Jalandhar

Work: Labourer Last Conversation: Roop said some people had abducted him after promising to give him a better house, and were now holding him hostage in a factory

Survived By: Wife, two sons

KAMALJIT SINGH, 38

from Chhauni Kalan village in Hoshiarpur Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: June 15, 2014 to inform about kidnapping Survived By: Wife, two kids

DHARMINDER KUMAR, 25

from Talwandi Churan village in Gurdaspur Work: Construction labourer

Last Conversation: sister dimple and asked about the health of her parents. Early 2014, told sister to take care of parents; did not talk about the war Survived By: Parents, sister

SONU SHIRA, 24

from Chawinda Devi village, Amritsar Work: Construction labourer

Last Conversation: To his wife on June 14, 2014, he said, “We’ve been detained, are being taken to different places. There’s tension. I will talk later.” Survived By: Mother, wife, 2 sons

SURJIT SINGH MAINKA, 30

from Chuharwali villagein Jalandhar Work: Carpenter

Last Conversation: In June 2014, Surjit told his brother-in-law Manjit Singh that some people had abducted him and were taking him somewhere.

Survived By: Mother, wife, son

BALWANT RAI, 54

from Dhadde village in Jalandhar Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: It was a general talk days before abduction Survived By: Wife, two sons and a daughter

SANDEEP KUMAR, 31

from Allewali village in Nakodar, Jalandhar Work: Labourer Last Conversation: June 13, 2014, he told mother some people abducted them and taking them to an isolated place

Survived By: Mother, 4 sisters and a brother

GOBINDER SINGH, 47

from Kapurthala Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: On June 15, 2014, he told his brother that terrorist had abducted them; said they promised to release them; but \mobile was switched off later. Survived By: Wife, a son and daughter

GURDIP SINGH, 39

from Jaitpur village in Hoshiarpur Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: June 15, 2014, to inform about kidnapping Survived By: Wife, two kids

HARSIMARANJIT SINGH, 24

from Babowal village in Amritsar Work: Construction labourer

Last Conversation: Harsimaranjit talked to mother Harbhajan Kaur on June 15, 2014 and told her he was fine and would come back soon. Survived By: Parents

NISHAN SINGH, 32

from Sangoana village in Ajnala, Amritsar Work: Crane operator

Last conversation: Nishan told his elder brother Sarwan Singh on June 15, 2014, that war is on in Iraq and he had been made captive by IS but the captors were giving them food regularly.

Survived By: Parents, brother

MANJINDER SINGH, 24

from Bhoewal village in Amritsar Work: Construction labourer

Last conversation: He told sister on June 15, 2014, “War is on here. We’ve been kidnapped by those who’ve attacked the city. But they’re giving us food.” Survived By: Parents

GURCHARAN SINGH, 36

from Jalal Usma, Amritsar Work: Carpenter Last Conversation: He told brother Gurjit Singh on June 17, 2014, that he had been made hostage by IS; and that terrorists told him they would free them once they capture Baghdad. Survived By: Parents, wife, son, daughter, brother

JATINDER SINGH, 21

from Sialka , Amritsar Work: Construction labourer

Last conversation: To mother on June 15, 2014, he said terrorists had captured Mosul, and workers had been barred from going outside.

Survived By: Parents and brother

JASVIR SINGH, 24

from Mehatpur village in Nawanshahr Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: In early June 2014, he said he was fine. Survived By: Parents

KAMALJEET SINGH, 30

From Roopawali village in Batala, Gurdaspur

Work: Construction labourer

Last Conversation: In early 2014, asked about daughter who had been born after he’d left to Iraq. Survived By: Parents, wife, daughter

RANJIT SINGH, 26

From Manawala village in Ajnala, Amritsar Work: Carpenter

Last Conversation: Ranjit’s elder sister Jasbir Kaur talked to him on June 15, 2014: “He told me that he had been made captive in Iraq, and asked me to approach the government for his release.” Survived By: Mother

PRITPAL SHARMA, 55

from Dhuri Work: Labourer

Last Conversation: June 15, 2014, on abduction: “It might be my last call.” Survived By: Wife, son, daughter

RAKESH KUMAR, 21

from Qadian in Gurdaspur Work: Construction labourer Last Conversation: In May 2014, told kin they should not worry about the news of war, said would soon send them some money.

Survived By: Parents

MALKEET SINGH, 26

from Tallianwala village in Gurdaspur

Work: Construction labourer

Last conversation: Told kin in June 2014 that IS was spreading into Mosul; said senior employees of factory had left, and that they too would move to a safe place. Survived By: Father and brother