Bandipora, Jan 11: The family of a Hajj pilgrim from Sumbal township here who went missing from a Saudi hospital two months ago, has sought the help of the State Government to trace his whereabouts.
 Ghulam Muhammad Shah of Shah Mohalla, Sumbal, had left for the Holy pilgrimage under cover no JKF6511-4-0 on October 19 last year. “On reaching Saudi on October 23, he spoke with us on phone. However, day after he fell ill and was admitted in a local hospital Mustashai Nafsiya. After undergoing treatment for some day, he suddenly went missing,” Shah’s family said adding he was  scheduled to return home on December 1.
 The family said authorities in Jeddah had lodged an FIR1007 on December 30, 2011 in Taneem Police Station. “We had approached the State Hajj Committee to know his whereabouts of Shah, however, the officials failed to give any response till date,” said Fayaz Ahmed son- in- law of Shah.  In response to consistent fax messages of the inmates and the Hajj Committee, The Hajj Consulate in Jeddah in a letter (Jed/Haj/118/82/2011) had expressed helplessness to locate Shah. “We are checking all possible quarters to find the missing person and we shall inform you about development if any,” the letter states.
 Minister for Hajj and Auqaf, Ajaz Ahmad Khan said the State Government has been making efforts to trace the missing pilgrim.
 “We have already informed the Hajj Committee of India and Hajj consulate. We cannot dictate terms to the Saudi Government. If there is any development, family of the missing pilgrim would be informed accordingly,” Khan said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST