Mangalore: 'My Child has Got a Second Birth' - Nayeem's Father
By Melka Miyar
Pics: Ibrahim Baddoor
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (AF)
Mangalore, May 18: After days and days of anxious wait, sincere prayers and untellable sorrow, it was jubilation time at the Sarang household. Sarang Mohammed Nayeem who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan nearly a month ago was released by his abductors and Naeem's parents could not hold back their tears of inexpressible joy.
When Daijiworld team visited the Sarang house to interview the family, the happiness and relief was very much evident in the faces of everyone present. Nayeem's father Sarang Mohammed Hussain told Daijiworld, 'I have never been so happy in my life. My third child (Nayeem) has got a second birth. He was released by the abductors three days ago and he had to walk for three days to reach the nearest city.'
Nayeem was abducted in Hirat, Afghanistan in April. He was an employee of HEB Logistics, an American company.
Narrating as to how the family came to know of Nayeem' release, Hussain said, 'We came to know on this morning (Sunday May 18) at 6.30 am from the HEB Logistics company director Sunil Shetty who called up to break the news. Immediately after that Nayeem also spoke to all the family members. He sounded very tired.'
'Sunil Shetty said that he would arrange a party in Mangalore,' said a jubilant Hussain.
The locals have been visting the Sarang household since the time the news of Nayeem's release first broke. Nayeem is now in Kabul. He was released after his company paid the ransom demanded by the abductors. However, the amount paid is not yet known.
He will be reaching India in two days' time and his parents will go to receive him at Mumbai.
'Isse badi khushi aur kya ho sakti hai? (What happiness could be greater than this?)' was all that Nayeem's mother Chand Sultana could say. She had no words to describe her exhilaration. She added, 'On the phone Nayeem said he was not physically tortured or harmed by the abductors. He was even offering namaz with the kidnappers. I thank God for keeping my son safe and sound and returning him back to us.'
The family is celebrating by distributing sweets to all the relatives, neighbours, friends and well-wishers who came to their house to congratulate them. Hussain expressed his gratitude to all those who worked for his son's release. He specially thanked Abdul Majid Suralpady, a local who was with them in their times of sorrow and Udupi district Congress president M A Ghafoor.
He also thanked union ministers Renuka Chaudhary, Oscar Fernandes and Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi with whom the family had interacted during her visit on Tuesday May 13. He said that speaking to them made a big difference as later the issue was raised in the parliament which ultimately led to Nayeem's release.
The family is celebrating after many days of mental agony. The relief and exuberance of the parents at learning their son was safe and about to return home is too great to be described in words.
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