Farzeen Gafoor, a 28-year-old nursing assistant with the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, who had been missing for 24 days, returned home under mysterious circumstances on Saturday night. Found standing alone near his house in Guruvayoor, Farzeen appeared disoriented and had no recollection of where he had been or how he got back.
His father Gafoor, who had returned from Muscat after learning of his son’s disappearance, was the first to spot him. “He was just standing by the roadside, in casual clothes, without any luggage or ID. When I called out, he recognised me, but couldn’t recall anything about the last few weeks,” he said.
Farzeen had gone missing during a journey to Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where he was to undergo a three-month training programme at the Military Hospital. He had left Pune on July 9 and boarded a train from Mumbai on July 10. His last contact was a phone call to his wife, Zareena, in which he mentioned being tired and planning to sleep. The next morning, his phone signal was briefly detected near Izzatnagar railway station before it was switched off.
When he returned, Farzeen seemed physically unharmed but mentally withdrawn. “He doesn’t talk properly and gives disconnected answers. A doctor has prescribed medication, and we’re considering taking him to a military hospital,” Gafoor said.
The family had earlier filed a missing person case with Guruvayoor police under Section 57 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011. The investigation was later transferred to Izzatnagar police in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have now been informed of his return and will oversee further legal procedures.
Farzeen had joined the Army five years ago while pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. He is married to Zareena, a dietitian, who is currently six months pregnant. The family, still shaken, hopes medical evaluation will shed light on what happened during the 24 days he was missing.
