Jammu youth dies ‘mysteriously’ in Greece; family seeks PM Modi’s help to bring back mortal remains
As per family members, Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Muthi village Jammu district, died in Greece a few days ago.
His body is lying at the General Hospital, Neas Ionias, Konstantopouleio in Greece.
The cause of death is yet to be ascertained, according to the family.
The mother of the deceased, Geeta Devi, has appealed to Narendra Modi headed Central government to help in bringing the mortal remains of her son to India.
According to family members, the deceased had been living in Greece for over three years and was working for a company.
“The deceased belonged to a poor family of farmers and had gone to Greece to earn but died under mysterious circumstances,” said a relative, adding that he is survived by his mother and three brothers.
His father died a few years ago, and agriculture is the only source of income for the family.
“The family came to know about his death through an official who called up from the Indian Embassy in Greece to say that he (Pankaj) has died, and as desired by the officer, an affidavit has also been forwarded to Embassy officials to facilitate the return of mortal remains to his native village,” another relative said.
“We are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Greece to get back the mortal remains, but nothing fruitful has been achieved so far,” Ravinder Singh, a cousin of the deceased, told UNI.
He said, “We appeal to the Central Government to intervene in the matter so that the family will get back the body of Pankaj at the earliest and his last rites can be performed in his native village.”
“We request the External Affairs Ministry and Union Minister in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh to intervene and facilitate the return of the mortal remains of the deceased so that the last rites can be performed with all rituals,” the family members said, demanding that the cause of the death should be probed.