Birju Kulu, Who Returned Odisha After Spending 20 Years In Pak Jail, Goes Missing

Sundergarh: Birju Kulu, who had recently returned to his native village at Katanga under Kutra police limits in the district after spending 20 years in Pakistan jail, reportedly went missing from his house.

Though Kulu is untraceable since Saturday night, the matter came to light after his sister lodged a missing complaint at Kutra police station on Sunday.

His sister Tedrace Kulu said that Birju went missing since Saturday night.

Police and family members along with the villagers have launched a search operation. But, they are yet to trace him.

Accompanied by senior government officials Kulu had reached his village to a rousing welcome by the fellow villagers in November last year.

A large number of villagers from the area had welcomed Kulu amidst traditional tribal dance, music and beating of drums and other instruments.

His parents are no more, but his paternal uncle and aunt, sister and her family were eagerly waiting for him ever since information about his release was received.

Kulu had left home at the age of 25 and somehow walked across the border into Pakistan by mistake when he was in Punjab. He was caught, taken into custody on the suspicion of being an Indian spy and put in jail in Lahore.

A team of officials from Sundergarh district administration had travelled to Amritsar in Punjab to bring Kulu back after he was released and handed over to the Indian authorities last month. He was placed in quarantine at a hospital in Amritsar following his return from Pakistan, officials said.