Thaindian News

Srinagar, March 4 (IANS) Ever since her husband left the uptown Magarmal Bagh home in the city on Feb 18, Sukhbir Kaur has been a shattered woman. Jagdeep Singh Bali, a senior officer with the state public health engineering department hasn’t come back till now.

“He left home on Feb 18 at 7.30 p.m. and never came back. I was in Jammu in connection with a marriage ceremony, Baliji and my daughter had been together at our Magarmal Bagh home in my absence,” said Sukhbir Kaur.

“He is a diabetic and we don’t know his fate,” the 54-year-old said, her voice choked with emotion and tears rolling down from her eyes.

Bali, 57, was an executive engineer with the department.

“We have lodged an first infomation report with the local police station. He did not have any apparent enemies and we don’t suspect anyone in particular,” said R.P.S.Bali, 61, uncle of the missing engineer.

Police said they are investigating the engineer’s disappearance.

“We are investigating all possible angles of this case. We will soon crack the case,” said a senior police officer.

But, the Balis are traumatized.

“My eldest daughter is married in Canada. My youngest daughter is yet to be married. We haven’t been able to sleep since Baliji went missing. My younger son recently passed his secondary school examination with distinction. We are all shattered,” said Sukhbir.

The small Sikh community in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the Valley did not migrate when the local Pandits left the Valley en mass in early 1990s due to the outbreak of the separatist violence.

“We are Kashmiris and we have decided to live alongside our Muslim brothers. We have a common fate. I request his department and his colleagues to help the family trace our loved one, who was equally dear to his friends and colleagues,” said R.P.S. Bali, a retired senior officer with the State Bank of India.