Harjeet’s call came, but he is yet to return, says brother

 

After a long wait of nearly three months, the family of Harjeet Massih, the Punjab labourer who claimed to have escaped from the captivity of Islamic State militia in Mosul, Iraq, finally heard from him on November 13. Harjeet has been in the limelight ever since he claimed that while 40 Bangladeshi labourers were released by IS, 39 Indian workers had been executed by them.

“He was calling from Ërbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, where he is with the Indian intelligence agencies. They facilitated the call, which came in the evening and lasted about four minutes. Harjeet said he was fine and might return to India within 10-15 days,” said his brother Robin Massih, while speaking to The Hindu.

Robin, who stays with his parents, a brother and a sister in Kala Afghana village in  Gurdaspur district, said as Harjeet was apparently in the company of the intelligence officials, he only asked about the well-being of the family members. “We asked him about the fate of other Indians but the call got disconnected,” said Robin.

Robin said Harjeet had sustained a gunshot wound during his escape from the custody of Islamic State but the injury has now healed. However, some officials had claimed that he had cuts in his upper arm but no bullet injury.

Robin recalled that the last Harjeet had spoken to the family was around Independence Day this year. Prior to that, 22-year-old Harjeet had called up on July 29 and before that on June 15. “Each time he had noted that he was in the company of Indian officials but was not being allowed to return home. So even this time we are a bit sceptical if he would return soon,” said Robin.

Harjeet, who is a practising Christian, had told his family that he, along with several construction workers, had been abducted by IS militants but managed to escape from a Mosul factory. “After escaping, Harjeet had first called us from a check post near Erbil, about 88 km east of Mosul," Robin said.