Bhatkal: A young man from Kumta, who had come to Bhatkal for wedding shopping, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, sparking suspicion that he may have been abducted for ransom. A case has been registered at the Bhatkal Town Police Station, and an investigation is underway.
The missing person has been identified as 32-year-old Zakir Baig, who had arrived in Kumta from Muscat on October 6 to prepare for his upcoming wedding. On October 10, he had travelled to Hubballi to purchase clothes for his bride, and on Friday, October 17, he came to Bhatkal along with his elder brother’s wife and niece to buy gold.
According to Zakir’s elder brother Ghafoor Baig, after reaching Bhatkal, Zakir went to Noor Masjid to offer Friday prayers, while his sister-in-law and niece (Ghafoor’s wife and daughter) went to their residence located in the Gulmi area of Bhatkal. When Zakir did not return even by 1:30 p.m., family members tried to contact him on his mobile phone. The call rang once before getting disconnected, and subsequent attempts failed as the phone was switched off.
Speaking to SahilOnline, Ghafoor Baig said that Zakir’s marriage was fixed with his consent and scheduled for November 2. He added that Zakir was carrying Omani currency, which he intended to exchange in Bhatkal. A missing person complaint was filed at the Bhatkal Police Station on October 18, following which the police launched a search operation from multiple angles.
According to Bhatkal Police Inspector Diwakar, CCTV footage from Noor Masjid showed Zakir leaving the mosque after Friday prayers while looking at his mobile phone. The footage also captured him holding his passport and Aadhaar card in hand. The inspector said Zakir might have carried his passport for currency exchange purposes, but other possibilities are also being examined.
Inspector Diwakar further stated that since a large number of people were present outside the mosque after Friday prayers, it seems unlikely that Zakir could have been abducted from there. However, it remains unclear where he went after offering prayers. He added that efforts are underway to trace him through mobile network tracking, and police are also investigating the list of people he last spoke to before going missing.
The public is also requested to provide any information regarding the youth to the local police station.