They were making preparations for a wedding.[break]
But the entire family is now in a state of shock as Pushparaj, who landed in Kathmandu on August 5 this year, has still not shown up.
“He arrived in Kathmandu by a Thai Airways flight on August 5,” said Damodar, father of Pushparaj. “But he never reached home.”
Pushparaj did SLC from Siddhartha Vanasthali School, and Intermediate in Science from Amrit Science College, before graduating in Pharmacy from Pakistan´s Gomal University. He was a gold medalist at the university.
After returning to Nepal, he worked with Janata Deurali Pharmaceuticals for two years, and four years ago, he left for the Chosun University in Khwangju, South Korea, on full scholarship for further studies. After completing Masters in Pharmacy there, he was doing PhD at the same university.
“In six months from now, he was set to receive PhD degree,” Damodar said. “We have inquired about him at hotels in Kathmandu to Korea, but without success,” he added.
The family started searching for Pushparaj 15 days after his flight landed in Kathmandu.
From a friend who was a classmate in Pakistan, the family members leant that Pushparaj had visited the residence of his friend Niraj Basnet at Dhungeadda, Kathmandu, on August 6.
“When we inquired with Niraj´s family, they said he left them on August 6, leaving behind a bag,” Damodar said.
The family members have recovered Pushparaj´s passport, citizenship card, clothes, and cash, including Euros, equivalent to Rs 150,000.
“Niraj says he left in a taxi. But his brother-in-law says he left for Ratnapark in a bus,” Damodar lamented. “A son who excelled in studies even in foreign countries is lost.”
In South Korea, Pushparaj was researching cure for cancer. Pushparaj was offered scholarship to do PhD at Chosun University owing to his academic excellence.
“We had hoped that he would make a contribution to his nation, given his brilliance that was evident from his childhood days,” Damodar said. “The sate should also take an initiative to help locate such a person.”
The father said at times he fears his son might have been kidnapped as he has heard stories of big companies engaging in “intellectual kidnapping” of people who are promising.
Pushparaj is the third among Damodar´s four sons. The family members are worried to death and have requested Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range at Hanumandhoka to find him. But police have not found any lead so far.
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