Chandigarh: It continues to be an endless wait for families of 40 Punjabi youth suspected to be in ISIS custody in Iraq.
10-month-old Arshpeet has never seen his father Gurdeep who went to work in Iraq two months before he was born. Things were alright for the family until June earlier this year when the news of ISIS onslaught in many parts of northern Iraq including Gurdeep reached the family.
On June 15, the family received a call from Gurdeep where he informed them that things were bad and he didn't know what to do. There has been silence ever since. His wife continues to swing between hope and despair.
"We spoke on June 15. He sounded tense and asked me to take care of myself and our child. We have visited Delhi on many occasion but they just stall us," says Anita Rani, Gurdeep's wife.
Punjabis from the Doaba region have been working in the Middle East in large numbers. But with security crisis in the country, many families now say that once their loved ones come back, they will make sure they never step out of the country again.
"I pray for him daily. All I know is if he returns I won't let him leave again, says Gurdeep's mother Surender Kaur.
Many families met Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal seeking more information about their dear ones. The central government later assured the families that their loved ones are safe but they cannot share any more details.
The authorities try to reassure us. But how can we be convinced untill and unless we hear from him," says Jarnal Singh, a family member.
The helpless families are now planning to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and hope they get some good news.
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