‘Missing since 1997’: Presumed dead by family, UP man returns home after 29 years to collect documents for SIR

MUZAFFARNAGAR: After nearly 30 years, a 79-year-old man, long presumed dead by his family, returned to his hometown of Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar district to collect documents for West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.Sharif Ahmad (79), who had gone 'missing' since 1997 when he moved to West Bengal following his second marriage after the death of his first wife, arrived in his hometown on December 29 to collect documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, his nephew Waseem Ahmad told PTI. "We tried to trace him over the years, even travelled to West Bengal and followed up the address provided by his second wife, but all attempts failed," Waseem said."With no contact for decades, his four daughters and the family assumed that he was no longer alive," he added.Sharif said he returned to his hometown to collect documents for the SIR exercise in West Bengal, which prompted him to reconnect with his native place.During his visit, he discovered that several close family members, including his father and brother, had passed away.The emotional reunion, however, brought immense joy to the remaining family members, Waseem said."Seeing him after so many years was a deeply moving experience for all of us," he said.After the short visit, Sharif returned to his home in Medinipur district, West Bengal, to complete the SIR formalities.(With agency inputs)