Indian national missing in Portugal; Family seeks MEA help

Man disappears after a night out with office friends in Lisbon on June 7

| Updated: 27 June, 2023 4:58 pm IST
Image of Tarun Khokhar shared by his brother Sanjeev

NEW DELHI: The family of a 37-year-old Indian youth who has been missing Portugal for the past 15 days today appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs for help.

Tarun Khokhar, who hails from Pitam Pura in New Delhi, shifted to Portugal after getting a job in the country’s capital, Lisbon, five years ago. According to his family, he is currently working for SERVIRODA-Comércio de Pneus e Acessórios, SA, a company in Azambuja municipality in Lisbon.

Speaking to The New Indian, Tarun’s elder brother, Sanjeev Kumar Khokhar, said that Tarun left for a party with his office friends on the evening of June 7. He has not returned since then, Sanjeev said.

“Around 10-11 pm, local time, on June 7, my brother left his rented apartment. He told his flatmates that he was leaving with office friends for a party,” Sanjeev said.

Sanjeev also said that they have complained to the local Portugal police there, but nothing concrete has come out yet.

“There has been no communication with him since then. His phone has also not been reachable since 11 pm on June 9. His local flatmate (Brenda Raquel) filed a missing complaint on June 9,” the elder brother added.

Sanjeev also told The New Indian that Tarun had earlier spoken to their 60-year-old mother and he sounded normal during their conversation.

“My brother spoke to our mother, Krishna Khokhar, during lunch time. He speaks to our mother almost daily. During the call, he sounded normal. He expressed no sadness or disappointment. He told my mother that he would be coming to India in November,” Sanjeev said.

Sharing pictorial memories of his brother, Sanjeev turned to Indian authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, for help. “I have written letters to the Indian embassy, consulates, Ministry of External Affairs and everyone. We have yet to get any response. We just appeal to our government to help us locate Tarun,” the elder brother added.

Sanjeev said that their mother is worried and will soon hold a protest to make their plea heard. “My brother has been missing for the past 15 days and yet the Indian government has not taken up the matter with the Portuguese authorities,” he said.

“We are anguished. My mother is worried. We are in pain. We will soon start protesting,” he added.

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