Deported Man Found Dead After Disappearance
A 59-year-old Bengaluru man, Suraj Lama, who was deported from Kuwait to Kochi and subsequently went missing, has been found dead. His body was discovered in a deserted area near Kochi, confirming his family's worst fears.
Identification and Investigation
The body was found in Kalamassery, near the Hindustan Machine Tools premises, about two kilometers from the government medical college hospital where Lama was last seen. Aluva Deputy Superintendent of Police R Rajesh stated that the body has been tentatively identified as Suraj Lama. His son, Santon Lama, has arrived in Kochi to assist with formal identification. The clothes on the body matched those Suraj Lama was wearing when he disappeared. A final confirmation will be made after scientific examination.
Timeline of Events
- October 5: Suraj Lama arrived at Kochi international airport after being deported from Kuwait.
- October 8: The family filed a missing person complaint after learning he was sent to Kochi instead of Bengaluru.
- October 10: He was admitted to the government medical college hospital in Kalamassery and was seen on CCTV leaving the hospital 20 minutes later.
- October 21: Santon Lama filed a habeas corpus petition.
Family's Grief and Allegations
Santon Lama blames his father's death on "systemic failure," particularly criticizing the government medical college authorities for allowing his father to leave the hospital. He intends to pursue the matter further in the High Court.
High Court's Involvement
The Kerala High Court had been hearing a habeas corpus petition for Suraj Lama and had expressed concerns about the rising number of missing persons in the state. Justice Devan Ramachandran assured the family that the court would not rest until Lama was found.
The High Court dubbed Suraj Lama an "alleged detenue" after he went missing from the hospital. In an interim order on November 21, the court expressed suspicion that he might be nearby but unable to communicate.
Background
Suraj Lama worked in the hotel business in Kuwait for decades. He reportedly suffered memory loss due to "alcohol poisoning" and was subsequently deported. His family lives in Bengaluru.
On August 31, the family was informed that he had suffered "alcohol poisoning" in Kuwait and was admitted to a hospital. They were later told he had developed partial memory loss and speech impairment.
Two weeks later, the family learned he had been taken into custody by Kuwaiti authorities and transferred to a deportation center. On October 7, they received a photo of his air ticket showing he was deported to Kochi.
