After nearly 30 years of being presumed dead, 79-year-old Sharif Ahmad returned to his hometown of Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar district to collect documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where he has been living for many years.
Sharif had been missing since 1997, following his second marriage after the death of his first wife. “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,” his nephew Waseem Ahmad told PTI. With no contact for decades, Sharif’s four daughters and extended family had assumed he was no longer alive.
Sharif explained that he returned to his hometown specifically to collect the necessary documents for the SIR exercise, which required him to re-establish contact with his native place. During the visit, he discovered that many of his close family members, including his father and brother, had passed away.
The reunion, though brief, was an emotional and joyful experience for the family. “Seeing him after so many years was a deeply moving experience for all of us,” Waseem said. After completing his visit, Sharif returned to Medinipur district in West Bengal to finish the SIR formalities.
