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Decades-Long Reunion: Salute Leads to Family Reconnection After 42 Years
3 Aug
Summary
- Elderly man's sharp salute at Bhopal old-age home leads to family reunion
- Former sub-inspector Puran Singh had been missing for decades
- Viral video shared by DSP Santosh Patel helps trace Singh's identity
On July 15, 2023, DSP Santosh Patel was visiting an old-age home in Bhopal when an elderly resident stood up and greeted him with a crisp salute and the words "Jai Hind." The man, later identified as former sub-inspector Puran Singh, had been missing for decades.
According to the report, Singh had once served in the police force. After losing his wife in a road accident, he turned to alcohol and struggled with mental health issues, eventually disappearing and living on farmlands outside Bhopal for years. Eight months prior, the son of his employer had admitted him to the Aasra Old Age Home.
Patel, who had previously lived in Betul, tried triggering Singh's memory by mentioning familiar places. The video of their interaction went viral, crossing 10 lakh views. This led to Singh's son, Raja, who was just 18 months old when his father vanished, to finally reconnect with his long-lost parent. Raja, now employed in Maharashtra, visited the old-age home with his family, overjoyed to have found his father after decades.
The report suggests that Singh may now be eligible for pension benefits, as he was likely never formally retired. Patel has a history of using social media to reunite other mentally ill individuals with their families.
