As a family waits for news of abducted son, another rejoices in this Nawanshahr village

Jasbir’s family said he worked as a technician in a private company until he was abducted in Iraq.

Relatives of missing Jasbir Singh in Mehandpur on Monday. Source: Jasbir Malhi

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 on 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, a frail old woman, has been spending sleepless nights ever since June 14, when she last spoke to her son Jasbir Singh (24), who called her from Mosul. “My son had gone to Iraq about eight months ago for a job. Recently, he had started sending home money to sustain our large family. Who could foresee the tragedy which has befallen us?” Surjeet told The Indian Express.

Jasbir’s family said he worked as a technician in a private company until he was abducted in Iraq. His father is a daily wage earner. “The government claims that Indians are safe there. Many officials have been visiting us, assuring us about their safety. But how can we say so until we speak to Jasbir?” said his uncle Satpal Singh.

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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. He was among the first Indians who returned home after the crisis started.

“I was sending Rs 40,000 back home every month. Back in Baghdad, life was more than comfortable. I was hired by an American company around three-and-a-half years ago to work as a driver in the embassy. Since then, I largely remained in the embassy compound where all our needs were provided for by the company,” he said.

“I never realised all of it could be taken away so swiftly… A few days ago, our employer asked us if we wanted to leave and then provided us with tickets,” he added.

Life has not always been so rosy for Gagandeep, the son of a mason. He first went to Dubai several years ago before moving to Iraq. “My travel agent cheated me and I was forced to work for a company that harassed me and seized my passport. I was completely out of cash and without a friend when the someone in the Indian embassy helped me get a proper job,” he said.

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Asked about his future plans, his brother Kulwinder Singh said, “We will wait for a few more days before asking him to start working here.”

Another villager said that his son Kuldeep Kumar was stranded in Iraq as his company has refused to return his passport. Similarly, two more youths are stranded in the war-torn country, said villagers.

Meanwhile, in the quiet Lohar Kangna village in Hoshiarpur, Paramjit Singh (45) has returned home on Sunday morning, bringing respite to his tense mother. “She was pale with fear and anxiety until I returned. We were 11 Punjabis who returned from the Kurdistan region where the situation was relatively peaceful. However, we heard rumours of an Indian being killed by terrorists. Our company has not been paying us, but gave us flight tickets when we persisted,” said Paramjit.

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