Dads won146;t be home for vacation, moms going to get bodies

In two weeks, Lawrence Monis would have been home in Bangalore. On vacation with family. But this evening, his wife Wilma was flying to Saud...

In two weeks, Lawrence Monis would have been home in Bangalore. On vacation with family. But this evening, his wife Wilma was flying to Saudi Arabia to fetch his body: he was one of the eight Indian casualties at Al Khobar, shot dead by terrorists before Saudi security forces ended the hostage crisis.

In Kerala8217;s Pankaparambil in Alappuzha, Class XII student Pratheesh learnt of his father Pradeep Kumar8217;s death while watching TV at a neighbour8217;s house. Kumar was to have come home in April but had deferred the trip for May end as he did not get leave.

For relatives and friends of the Monis family in Bangalore, the sense of disbelief simply won8217;t go. 8216;8216;It8217;s unbelievable. We have known of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia. This is the first time they are on the streets, shooting at people,8217;8217; sobbed a relative.

Lawrence was an assistant general manager with Al-Sagr Insurance Company and had been working in the kingdom for nearly 20 years.

Nobody here knows what really happened. All that the family has heard that Lawrence, driving his car, had stopped at a traffic signal point when shots rang. A bullet hit him in the head, killing him on the spot.

Since the terrorists appeared to have targeted Westerners, the family believes Lawrence was mistaken for a Westerner because of his fair complexion and features.

The Indian toll

Monis

Eight Indians died in the Al Khobar attack: Lawrence Monis, Pradeep Kumar, J N Jose, Charles Clethens Carlos, John Fernando, Suresh
Kumar, J Ram, Vikram. A website quoted the Al Qaeda as saying 8220;10 Indians8230; among the murderers of our Muslim brothers in Kashmir8221; were killed. 8212; PTI

Story continues below this ad

His wife and children, Allen 17 and Samantha 15, stay in an apartment in Domlur Layout in the city with the victim8217;s sister, Agnes. They returned from a two-month trip to Saudi Arabia only on May 11 and were waiting for Lawrence to take leave. Allen has just completed II PUC while Samantha is joining college.

Lawrence was from Madanthyar near Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada district. His parents still live in their ancestral home.

8216;8216;He was extremely popular. In fact, he helped several people in his hometown to go to Saudi Arabia for work,8217;8217; says close friend Srini. 8216;8216;His brother-in-law too is there and they are all trying their best to see that his body is brought home soon.8217;8217;

Wilma flew to Mumbai this evening. She is expected to take the next flight to Saudi Arabia early Monday morning. The family expects it will take a week to complete all formalities and bring the body home. Friends said the funeral would be held in Madanthyar.