(Top): Kumaravel before leaving Nagaland. (Bottom) Reunited with his family in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu on December 11.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 12
A person from Tamil Nadu, reported lost 10 years ago, was found in a remote village in Nagaland and repatriated. The man, identified only as Kumaravel, was reunited with his family in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai district on December 11.
Around 50 years of age, the man was said to have turned up in Bongkolong village, Peren in early November. He could not speak any other language except his mother tongue, adding to the mystery. The best the villagers could do was informthe nearest police station in Athibung.
According to the Peren police, Bongkolong villagers alerted Athibung Police Station on November 5 about the presence of a stranger in the village.
“He appeared to be mentally unsound and could not speak any other language, making communication difficult, initially. He could only tell his name and the name of a place from south India,” said a Peren police official.
He was taken to Athibung Police Station where he was kept for two days under the care of the station personnel.
“We had to accommodate him in one of the bunks meant for the duty personnel and feed him for the two days he stayed there,” the official said, adding that they could link up with a home for the elderly (Old Age Friendship Home) in Dimapur to temporarily care for the man. Meanwhile, the police embarked on a month-long inquiry to trace his origin alerting police stations, particularly the southern region.
Through the help of the Nagaland Tamil Sangam in Dimapur, the police could make sense of the name of the place and locate it. It turned out to be Pudukkottai.
“According to the interpreter, he stated that he has been wandering aimlessly on foot for 3 months and reached where we found him,” the official added.
The Tamil Nadu police was informed and it was found that Kumaravel was reported missing by the Pudukkottai district police some ten years ago.
With his home town and family located, arrangements were made to reunite him with his long lost family. He made the air trip from Dimapur on December 11, to reach his home the same day.
The Peren police informed that the flight ticket to Tamil Nadu was paid for by the Nagaland Tamil Sangam as Kumaravel’s family was from a humble financial background.
The prompt and sensible action of the Bongkolong villagers to report the matter to police, the charitable assistance of the old age home, the Tamil community of Nagaland and the Tamil Nadu Police, all coalesced to help a person-in-need, the Peren police said.
