Brother-sister reunite a day after Raksha Bandhan
A 32-year-old man who had gone missing since a decade from his residence at Chembur was reunited with his sister on Monday, a day after Raksha Bandhan. A neighbour who was travelling to Vashi in a train, spotted the man on Monday afternoon.
Praveen Narayan Shetty (32), a resident of Tilak Nagar at Chembur had gone missing in March 2008. A neighbour played the angel card and restored the brother-sister bond after he accidentally bumped into Praveen on Monday evening. Manoj Kunder (34), a neighbour had spotted Praveen at Mankhurd railway station on Monday afternoon at 1 pm. Manoj was in a Vashi bound train standing on the footboard near the door when he saw Praveen sitting on platform number 1 at Mankhurd. Manoj immediately identified Praveen and alighted from the train. Manoj tried to approach Praveen. However, he was petrified and ran away. Manoj approached the Government Railway Police (GRP) constable Shivaji Phunde immediately and alerted him.
Manoj made a phone call to Praveen’s sister, Pranita (30) and asked her to come to Mankhurd railway station. When Pranita saw her brother, she was overwhelmed with tears of joy.
Their father Narayan Shetty had expired in August 2012. After marriage, Pranita has been staying along with her mother and husband at Manpada, Thane. Pranita kept looking for her brother in all these years. Whenever, she would get any information from her neighbours and friends regarding spotting people resembling Praveen, she would immediately reach the spot to search for him. However, she would return home disappointed.
According to Shivaji Phunde, Government Railway Police constable, Mankhurd, “Praveen has been reunited with his sister on Monday evening. We are happy to see the brother-sister duo together. The family’s prayers have been answered.”
The Shetty family had not registered any missing complaint after Praveen went missing. They hoped that Praveen would return home someday.
Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Pranita Shetty said, "I and my family do not wish to speak to the media. It is a private moment for us.”