Losing a child is the most agonising trauma any parent can go through. There’s nothing that can truly compare, and the lack of closure further complicates the grieving process.
In a recent Instagram post from user @officialhumansofbombay, the account shared the experience of a family from India, who lost their son (Mani) while he was in Malaysia for a seafarer job.
Mani’s friend, who was working on a ship in Malaysia at the time, shared the opportunity with him. Excited about the offer, Mani left for the job on September 22, 2022.
However, it was later discovered that after talking with his parents every day for the first 15 days after his departure, Mani suddenly stopped answering their calls. The concern deepened when he failed to call on his sister’s birthday, leading his family to realise that something was not right.
The mother, in her concern, reached out to the agent who had been in contact with her son regarding the seafarer job. The agent casually mentioned, ‘Your son has fallen off the ship’.
Subsequently, when the father made the call, the agent changed the story, stating, ‘Your son ran away’. Despite filing an FIR, the police explained, ‘This is Malaysia’s case; we aren’t able to provide assistance’.
“It’s been 2 years since I’ve heard his voice. I don’t know where my son is. All I know is that I should’ve stopped him when he came to me 2 years ago saying, ‘Amma, I got a seafarer job in Malaysia. I’ve to leave in 10 days’.”
A month later, in January 2023, the parents received a call saying, ‘Send ₹30,000!’ When they inquired about Mani, the man on the other end calmly stated, ‘I killed him’.
“From then on, I knocked on every government office’s door, but I received the same reply. That’s when I met Sachin. He was an officer’s friend and they decided to help me. They found other kids who went to Malaysia. And soon, they made me meet 1. That boy started crying. He knew my son. Mani was on night duty. He said, ‘I was told to tell everyone Mani drowned’.”
It was also revealed that in May, Sachin and his mother went to Malaysia, where they met the ship’s owner. He handed over Mani’s suitcase and asked,
“How much money will compensate for your son’s death?”
The local police closed the case, and the Indian embassy assured them that they’ll keep her posted. With dwindling hope, they returned to India.
“Every day, I wake up with the thought that my son is out there somewhere. I pray to God that he is safe. I live each day with the hope that he will come back.”
You can read the full story here.
We are saddened by what has happened to the family. We hope they find the closure and justice they need for their son.
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