Pathanamthitta 'missing' man case: Naushad shares ordeal, says no plans to leave Thommankuthu

Thodupuzha: Naushad, a Pathanamthitta native, thought to be killed and murdered by his wife, was found alive by police from Thodupuzha on Wednesday. As Kerala tuned in to hear his story, the mystery surrounding the unusual case in Pathanamthitta began to unravel in front of their eyes. 

Naushad appeared to have cut practically all links to his past life in order to work at a plantation in Thodupuzha while living in a household surrounded by wildness and harsh conditions. He was living in a house belonging to a man named Betty Varghese ( Santhosh) in Kuzhimattoom, situated a few kilometres away from Thommankuthu. 

It took some time for Civil Police Officer K Jayamon to locate him and reach Kuzhimattom using the information provided by Naushad's brother Rajesh, a merchant in Thommankuthu. The police were unable to track Naushad using his mobile phone due to a lack of network coverage in the area.

By the time the police officer reached there, Naushad had left to work in an agricultural patch nearby after having his breakfast. Naushad was also unaware of his wife Afsana's claims that she killed and buried him. After learning about the developments, Santhosh took a police officer to Naushad. 

Naushad later told police he was hiding from his wife and her relatives. He also revealed the ordeal that forced him to leave his wife and kids and go into hiding. 

"One night, I was having dinner at home after returning from work. Meanwhile, my elder child started to cry, and I asked Afsana to check on her. However, instead of looking after the child, she tried to wake up our elder child. We argued when she refused to heed my advice. Later, her relatives came home and brutally assaulted me in front of the children. Afsana didn't even care about me. Fearing I may lose my life, I left the house," he said. 

He added that he received a job at the plantation in Thodupuzha with the help of a family in Adoor. According to him, he feels peaceful in Thommankuthu and does not want to leave the place.