Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 3

A 40-year-old Army man, Gavara Srinivasa Rao, posted at Kapurthala, has been missing since May this year. Neither family members, nor the Army have found any information regarding him till date.Interestingly, Naik Rao’s retirement was due in September this year. To make the matter worse for the Visakhapatnam-based family comprising his wife Yagana and two sons, aged 12 and 10 years, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has even stopped Rao’s salary by reporting him as ‘missing from duty’.He was going to join his duty at Kapurthala from Visakhapatnam but allegedly got down at the Panipat railway station from where he called his wife.While the Visakhapatnam police had initially launched an investigation in the case, they claimed to have transferred it to the Panipat police in June.However, the Panipat police refused to acknowledge transfer of any case pertaining to the missing of Rao.“A police team from South India had come here around two months ago. They wanted to visit a few places. We provided all logistic support to them. The matter is being investigated at their end,” said SHO (City) Deepak Kumar.While the police of both states have halted the investigation to trace the missing Army man, Rao’s family has already landed in a state of severe financial crunch.“With no salary or other income, I have shifted to my parent’s house. I will urge the Union Defence Minister to kindly resume my husband’s salary till the time the police complete the investigation or else get some partial funds released from our Provident fund account,” said Yagana.She said she spoke to him last on May 8 at around 12 noon.According to his wife, he was going to join his duty at Kapurthala from Visakhapatnam but he got down at the Panipat railway station.“He called me from a local phone number there and informed that his mobile phone and wallet had gone missing. Later, a CCTV camera footage retrieved from the spot revealed that he had visited a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI), situated near the railway station, and withdrew Rs 5,000,” said Yagna.She added that another CCTV grab revealed that he had dinner from a local dhaba.“When I visited the spot three months ago, I was informed that he was last seen at a juice corner situated next to the dhaba,” said Yagna.While the Army releases pension benefits and other grants within a month of the retirement, it would not be able to do so in this case. Rao is at present considered missing from duty. With no effort made either by the police of both states or by the Army authorities to trace his whereabouts, the fate of Rao has almost become uncertain.2 months on, police, Army fail to trace victimWhile the Army releases pension benefits and other grants within a month of the retirement, it would not be able to do so in this case. Rao is at present considered missing from duty. With no effort made either by the police of both states or by the Army to trace his whereabouts, the fate of Rao has almost become uncertain.