In Punjab village, one family is relieved, while others pray

A variety of emotions seems to have gripped the tiny village of Mehandpur in Nawanshahr owing to the recent turmoil in Iraq. While one family is relieved to have one of its members return safely from Iraq Saturday night, another is desperately praying for the safety of their son, who is among the 40 Indians allegedly abducted by terrorists. Three other residents of this village are also stranded in various cities across Iraq.

Surjeet Kaur had last spoken to her son Jasbir Singh (24) in Mosul on June 14. “My son had gone to Iraq eight months ago for job. Who could foresee the tragedy which has befallen us?” Surjeet told The Indian Express. He worked as a technician in a private firm until he was abducted.

For 25-year-old Gagandeep, the crisis in Iraq has brought his dreams crashing down though his family is relieved to see him back home. Gagandeep was working as a driver in the US embassy in Baghdad and drawing a handsome salary, until he was forced to return.