Eighteen persons from Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh have been camping in Panipat for the last four days to find a missing relative from Pakistan. It could be a wild goose chase, as a TV channel and newspaper have already reported that Wakil was among those who crossed over to Pakistan. But his relatives are not taking any chances. They won’t give up until they find him or get conclusive evidence that he perished in the fire. His daughter and a relative too arrived here from Pakistan last night. Rahila was put through the same gruelling exercise of looking at all the bodies, but with little success. But the family firmly believes Wakil is alive. “How can he be dead, when he was seen on TV by one of our relatives. A newspaper published from Muzzafarnagar even included his name in the list of 11 persons who had crossed back safely after the blast. But where has he vanished now?” asks Maroof Ali, Wakil’s brother-in-law. After their queries with mediapersons came to a naught, the relatives today made a written complaint to the district administration asking for an inquiry into the entire episode. The administration has now asked the channel to submit its footage to clear the matter.“We are ready to accept that he is dead, but there must be some proof. Dil ko sukoon tau mile, agar kuch pata chale,” Rahila, who arrived from Hafizabad, pleads to the officers, before giving her DNA samples to be matched with the bodies. The Wakils are not alone in the search for missing relatives. As many as 14 others, including two Pakistan nationals, have given their blood samples for DNA testing. There were still 30 bodies left to be identified.Mohd Javed from Gaya is here with three friends to look for 11 persons who have gone missing after the blasts. His elder brother, Mohd Shahbir had gone with his aunt to Karachi after the formation of Bangladesh in 1971. Shahbir, an employee of Pepsi, last visited India 16 years ago. “He had come here for the first time after his marriage and birth of four children,” said Javed. Travelling along with Shahbir was his brother-in-law, his wife, two children and father. They also are feared dead.There is no way we can identify them. “Paanch, cheh feet ka admi sirf ab teen feet ka reh gaya hai jal ke. I can give my DNA sample for identifying my brother, but someone has to come from Pakistan for identifying his family members,” adds Javed, his voice choked. We have requested the Pakistani officials here to arrange for blood samples from Pakistan, as no one from their family can come here. After Javed wrote an application to the Panipat Deputy Commissioner explaining his case, the official assured that his request would be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs. Now, Javed doesn’t know for how long he will have to stay back.
