Mystery Man In Manama Hospital Identified
Eunice del Rosario
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
______________________
Manama (Bahrain):
A mystery man who has been in hospital for more than two months after being found injured, has finally been identified.
Friends identified Indian runaway worker Abu Hassan Mulakal, aged 40, after volunteers circulated photographs of him.
He had reportedly been dodging authorities for 14 years, before ending up in Salmaniya Medical Complex with an injured leg, after what appeared to have been a road accident.
Mr Mulakal was physically well enough to be discharged a month ago, but was kept in because he kept telling hospital staff that he had no idea who he was or where he lived.
Hospital officials contacted the Indian organisation, Surya Charitable and Cultural Association, to help identify him.
Surya in turn sought help from the Indian Embassy and the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF).
Volunteers distributed Mr Mulakal's photograph and he was recognised by friends and acquaintances.
They said that Mr Mulakal had spent over 14 years hiding from authorities in Bahrain.
"It was initially thought that Abu Hassan, who told doctors at the hospital that his name was Abu Baqer, was suffering from amnesia, but it turns out he isn't," Surya general secretary and ICRF treasurer K R Nair told the GDN yesterday.
"He had an accident two months ago and he suffered from leg injuries - not head injuries. We found out about his case when the SMC informed me about him and we later found out his real name and other details from people who know him here.
"He has not been home to India for over 14 years to see his wife and two children."
Mr Nair said that Mr Mulakal, of the Mallappuram district of Kerala, appeared lucid.
"Whenever I talk to him, he answers me straight away," he said. But when the GDN tried to interview Mr Mulakal, he gave different answers.
"I came here in 1972," he said.
A few minutes later, when asked the same question, he said he could not remember the year he got here.
"I am 18 years old," he said, when a few minutes earlier he had said he was 30.
However, his answers to what type of work he has done in Bahrain were consistent.
"I worked many jobs," he said.
"Labourer, painter, cooking assistant, cleaner... I do any job."
This is the same information he has given to officials from Surya, the ICRF and the embassy.
It is not clear who took Mr Mulakal to the hospital.
Mr Nair said police took him, but nurses said that he was left at the Accidents and Emergency Department.
Volunteers at the Ecumenical Conference for Charity (ECC), who visit patients at the SMC every Monday night, are also following up Mr Mulakal's case.
ECC volunteer M E G Coorey said that Mr Mulakal appeared confused whenever they visited him and often complained of leg pains.
Mr Nair said that the embassy had issued Mr Mulakal with an emergency certificate, which would enable him to travel back to India.
"Once immigration authorities gives us clearance for his exit from Bahrain, we will send him home," said Mr Nair.
Oct 12, 2005
Eunice del Rosario
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
______________________
Manama (Bahrain):
A mystery man who has been in hospital for more than two months after being found injured, has finally been identified.
Friends identified Indian runaway worker Abu Hassan Mulakal, aged 40, after volunteers circulated photographs of him.
He had reportedly been dodging authorities for 14 years, before ending up in Salmaniya Medical Complex with an injured leg, after what appeared to have been a road accident.
Mr Mulakal was physically well enough to be discharged a month ago, but was kept in because he kept telling hospital staff that he had no idea who he was or where he lived.
Hospital officials contacted the Indian organisation, Surya Charitable and Cultural Association, to help identify him.
Surya in turn sought help from the Indian Embassy and the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF).
Volunteers distributed Mr Mulakal's photograph and he was recognised by friends and acquaintances.
They said that Mr Mulakal had spent over 14 years hiding from authorities in Bahrain.
"It was initially thought that Abu Hassan, who told doctors at the hospital that his name was Abu Baqer, was suffering from amnesia, but it turns out he isn't," Surya general secretary and ICRF treasurer K R Nair told the GDN yesterday.
"He had an accident two months ago and he suffered from leg injuries - not head injuries. We found out about his case when the SMC informed me about him and we later found out his real name and other details from people who know him here.
"He has not been home to India for over 14 years to see his wife and two children."
Mr Nair said that Mr Mulakal, of the Mallappuram district of Kerala, appeared lucid.
"Whenever I talk to him, he answers me straight away," he said. But when the GDN tried to interview Mr Mulakal, he gave different answers.
"I came here in 1972," he said.
A few minutes later, when asked the same question, he said he could not remember the year he got here.
"I am 18 years old," he said, when a few minutes earlier he had said he was 30.
However, his answers to what type of work he has done in Bahrain were consistent.
"I worked many jobs," he said.
"Labourer, painter, cooking assistant, cleaner... I do any job."
This is the same information he has given to officials from Surya, the ICRF and the embassy.
It is not clear who took Mr Mulakal to the hospital.
Mr Nair said police took him, but nurses said that he was left at the Accidents and Emergency Department.
Volunteers at the Ecumenical Conference for Charity (ECC), who visit patients at the SMC every Monday night, are also following up Mr Mulakal's case.
ECC volunteer M E G Coorey said that Mr Mulakal appeared confused whenever they visited him and often complained of leg pains.
Mr Nair said that the embassy had issued Mr Mulakal with an emergency certificate, which would enable him to travel back to India.
"Once immigration authorities gives us clearance for his exit from Bahrain, we will send him home," said Mr Nair.
Oct 12, 2005
