3 months after DNA test of kin, no word on fate of men missing in Iraq
39 workers, most of them from Punjab, went missing in the wartorn country in 2014
AMRITSAR: In apparent sad news and continued anxiety for people whose kin are missing in wartorn Iraq, there is no word ever since their DNA test samples were collected by the government three-and-a-half months ago to be able to identify the men if found, dead or alive.
The tests were conducted by the Union government, in collaboration with authorities in Iraq, after a fresh search was initiated to trace the 39 Indians (most of them Punjabis), who were kidnapped by the terror group Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq, three years ago. Hopes were heightened after Iraqi forces backed by the US recaptured Mosul.
Samples of members of nine families were collected at the forensic lab of Government Medical College here on October 28 last year. The process could not be completed due non-availability of test kits. As per the government’s directions, samples of three members of each family were collected at the college’s forensic lab by a seven-member team of experts.
Each person gave two samples. One sample was sent to the forensic science laboratory in Mohali, and the other to Iraq.
“We have contacted the office of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) over phone six to seven times to know the status of the case. Every time, the person who picked up the call said there is no information,” said Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh, a resident of Bhoe Wala, who is one of the missing men. Gurpinder, who has been raising this issue with the central government, said the families are anxious. The Centre has been insisting that the men are not dead, though no other information is known.
Davinder Singh, brother of missing Gobinder Singh, a resident of Murar village, said, “I have made many attempts to get an appointment with external affairs minister Sushma Sawaraj, but in vain, as our pleas were declined by her personal secretary Satish Gupta.”
“Gupta took the stand that there is no use talking to the minister as she does not know the status. He said the MEA will inform us as soon as any new development takes place,” he added. Moreover, he said, they have been told by an official that DNA tests were conducted two months ago in Iraq.
Amritsar deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha also said he has no information.