By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The family members of Hamida G Momin has requested the Indian Embassy to ask the Nepal Government to continue searching for the body of Hamida who is till date declared ‘missing’ for over three days.
The Shillong Times spoke to a senior police official in Shillong who explained that the duration of such search operations depend from case to case. However, in case of a person going missing in a jungle or in cases like what has happened in Nepal, the police are likely to extend the search even for a month, if required or requested.
“We have requested the Indian Embassy to contact the Nepal Government to direct its military forces to continue with the search for at least 15 days”, Hamida’s elder sister Jullian G Momin said.
Further clarifying some confusion that followed the accident in Nepal, she expressed her apologies for the information given to the Press by her cousin, Robert Crosswell Shylla regarding the nonchalant attitude of the state government as well as Central government to provide support.
It may be mentioned that Shylla had complained about the adamant attitude of the government regarding this matter and also pleaded for both financial and physical support from the state government.
“I was ignorant of the fact that my relatives without my consent has let out the news that the local MLA, Limison Sangma as well as MP Agatha Sangma hasn’t done anything to help us”, she asserted.
She mentioned that following the accident a lot of supports were received from Ms Sangma, leader of the Opposition, Conrad Sangma and MLA Limison Sangma.
“Ms Agatha was the one who contacted the Indian Embassy and also arranged for accommodation in Delhi when we received information about our sister’s body being found and brought to Delhi which was wrong,” Jullian said while adding that Limison Sangma had booked four flight tickets from Guwahati to Delhi when the wrong information was received.
Meanwhile, in a statement sent to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, local MLA Limison D Sangma has termed Robert Shylla’s statements as baseless and unfounded. “I am always ready to render any help or make the family meet the Meghalaya Government for financial assistance or any other assistance”, he added.
He also appealed to the relatives of the victim to approach the concerned authorities for help and resolve the problem jointly instead of playing the blame game.
“Both Ms Agatha and Conrad Sangma were supportive and donated Rs 5000 to the family from their own pockets and we are really grateful to them. So it’s wrong to say that they have not done anything to help our sister”, Jullian added.
She also confirmed the reason behind their inability to visit Nepal to get involved in the search saying “The Indian Embassy had restricted us through the District Administration of West Garo Hills not to encourage the family members to come to Nepal and get involved in the search.”Meanwhile, The Shillong Times spoke to Robert C Sylla, cousin of missing Hamida. Robert had in an interview to this newspaper on Tuesday ( ST issue dated 25.10.2011) spoken appeals by the family to local leaders falling on deaf ears. On Wednesday, when confronted again, this time with the statement of Hamida’s sister which contradicted Robert’s allegations, Robert said it was “all a misunderstanding”. “Many relatives were saying so many things at the same time, I just want to make correction, the family members know best”, his mother added. Robert’s father and Hamida’s mother are siblings, making Robert and Hamida first cousins.