State Hajj Committee pursuing the missing of Haji with Saudi authorities: Ajaz

JAMMU, MARCH-09- Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf and Fisheries Mr. Ajaz Ahmed Khan informed the House that the State Hajj Committee is persistently pursuing the matter of non returning of Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Shah S/O Mohammad Sidiq Shah R/O Sumbal Sonawari from Hajj pilgrimage with Consulate General of India Jeddah as well as Hajj Committee of India through several reminders.

 The Minister said during the recently held hajj Committee of India meeting at New Delhi, he stressfully pleaded the issue of the missing pilgrim.  He said the concerned authorities of Hajj Committee of India (HCI) and Consul Hajj posted in Makkah assured that all efforts will be taken to trace out the missing pilgrim at the earliest.

Replying to a Calling Attention Notice of Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Mir in Legislative Council today, the Minister said the State Hajj Committee through Consulate General of India Jeddah got FIR registered (FIR No. 1007 dated 14-02-1432 H) in the concerned police Station at AI Taneem police Station.

Giving details of the efforts made by the State Hajj Committee in this regard, the Minister said on October 24^th the State Hajj Committee received a telephonic message in which it was informed that the pilgrim Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Shah has been admitted in a hospital. He said the Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly also took up the matter with Union Minister for External Affairs on 21-12-2011 for ascertaining the facts of the case.

The Minister said that in response to the said communication, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah informed that the pilgrim under question was suffering from abnormal behavior with psychiatric tendency. The Indian Medical Hajj Mission doctors after seeing his deteriorated condition had admitted him in Nafsiya Psychiatric Hospital on 24^th October 2011 in emergency ward at 11 pm. He said the patient escaped from the hospital premises on 25^th October 2011 during morning hours.

Mr. Ajaz said as per the report of Consulate General of India Jeddah all hospitals and Mortuaries in Makkah and Taif region have been checked for the said pilgrim. The issue was also taken up with South Asian Moassasa who has informed that all possible agencies including jails, hospitals and Mental Asylum, De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centres have been searched, but the pilgrim is untraceable till now.