Pune, November 7

Alleging there was “negligence and lack of communication” on part of the Air Force, the parents of Flt Lt Kunal Barpatte, who was on board AN-32 aircraft which went missing along with 28 others on July 22 off Chennai coast, today said the IAF has not given the exact status information of the search operations.“The aircraft has gone missing along with six crew members and 23 defence personnel for over 100 days now. The Air Force is not providing exact status and details of the search operations,” Kunal’s father Rajendra told reporters here. Kunal was the navigator on the aircraft that went missing.“As parents of Kunal, we feel that it is a prime responsibility of the Air Force to provide factual information to the affected families,” he said in the presence of his wife Vidya.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had visited the Barpatte family here and assured them of all support.Rajendra said recently they received a letter from the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Force headquarters in New Delhi, seeking consent for “presumption of demise”.“It is IAF which should declare about their demise. Why are they (IAF) seeking consent from us when they know everything about the operation,” he said. He alleged the Air Force was showing “negligence and lack of communication in the matter”.“All the families are in follow up with the IAF on search operation. However, sadly there are no updates and the authorities have almost concluded the search operations despite the fact that wreckage is still not salvaged.” — PTI