Pramesh S Jain
Mangaluru:The mortal remains of UAE-based expatriate Alwin Prakash Kundre, who was allegedly murdered in Sharjah,were brought to Mangaluru International Airport at around 3.30 am on Thursday and handed over to his grieving family.
Two representatives of the company where Alwin worked accompanied the casket from Sharjah and handed it over to his brother,Anil Prakash.
The repatriation comes amid weeks of distress for the family, who claim that authorities in the UAE have not shared key details of the homicide,including the FIR and formal judicial records.
Alwin,a native of Udupi,had been living in the UAE for around 14 years with his wife,Tina Kundre,a schoolteacher in Dubai,and their teenage son,who is a Class 10 student.Alwin was employed with Siemens in Sharjah.
The family’s ordeal began on July 20 when Anil tried to contact Alwin from Udupi.The call went unanswered, followed by unusual text messages.Alwin’s phone subsequently went offline on July 26.
Concerned,Anil contacted Alwin’s friend Manohar in Sharjah and asked him to check the family’s residence.
Although the building security guard reportedly told Manohar that the family had left for India,Anil later confirmed that Alwin had not arrived in Karnataka.
On the advice of Alwin’s employer,Anil subsequently filed a missing-person complaint with Sharjah police concerning Alwin,Tina and their son.
On the night of July 30,Sharjah police reportedly recovered a dismembered body, cut into nine pieces, from a vehicle abandoned along a highway leading towards Oman.
Following forensic examination and DNA matching, authorities on August 15 confirmed that the remains belonged to Alwin.The DNA verification was assisted by Alwin’s relative Martin, according to the family.
Investigators also found that Tina and their minor son had left Sharjah through the airport on July 26.
Their destination has not been disclosed, and relatives in Udupi said they had not been in contact with the two.
Speaking to reporters outside the airport,Anil said the family had received assistance from several people in completing the formalities and securing the release of the remains.
“The mortal remains arrived at 3.30 am.A local volunteer, Gafoor,along with Pramila Jathanna,Akash and Udaya, assisted us inside the terminal to expedite the paperwork and clearances,”he said.
Anil also acknowledged the intervention of local leaders, including MP Kota Srinivas Poojary,who he said coordinated with the Indian Embassy.
He said the family’s immediate priority was to ensure that those responsible for the murder were brought to justice.
“Whoever committed this murder must receive a befitting punishment.
Local police have assured us of action and stated that steps are underway to issue notices through Interpol.We want the full legal course pursued,even if capital punishment applies under the law there,”Anil said.
With Alwin’s remains now brought back to Karnataka for the final rites,the family is seeking answers to the circumstances surrounding his death and the whereabouts of Tina Kundre and their son.
