40 from Manglaur stranded in Iran, families seek evacuation

Roorkee: Nearly 40 people from Manglaur near Roorkee in Haridwar district are stranded in conflict-affected Iran, with their families expressing concern over their safety and seeking their early return to India. Most of those in Iran are students pursuing religious studies, primarily in capital Tehran and a few other cities.Manglaur has a Shia population of over 5,000, and most of them reside in Pathanpura and Halka localities. Members of the community also live in nearby villages, including Jaunpur Jhanjhedi, Landhaura, Bhagwanpur Chandanpur and Tanda. With tensions continuing in parts of Iran, relatives in the town said they are deeply concerned about the safety of their family members.Manglaur MLA Qazi Nizamuddin has submitted a list of residents to the chief secretary, seeking immediate intervention for their evacuation. "Iran's situation is grim and there is little hope of normalcy soon. Their immediate return is required," he said.Several families said they had not received any official communication regarding a possible evacuation process. "Neither the state govt nor the district administration has contacted us to inform families about when our children will be brought back," said Maulana Syed Meraj Mehdi, a local community leader.Among those stranded are the children of 48-year-old widow Hassan Fatima. Her 24-year-old daughter, Mohaddisa, travelled to Iran in Jan last year to pursue a three-year religious degree at Al-Mustafa International University in Qom. Her 27-year-old son, Hujjat Abbas, has been living in Qom for the past five years with his wife and daughter, where he runs a small business.Fatima said she was recently able to speak to her son but has been unable to contact her daughter, who stays in a hostel. "I am worried about my children's safety. In such circumstances, we want them back home at the earliest," she said.Community members said some families have been residing in Iran for years, while many students travel there to study in seminaries. With uncertainty continuing, relatives in Manglaur said they are hoping for swift action to ensure their safe return.