The power of social media is magnificent especially in finding connections. The reach of social media has now benefited a missing man from Manipur to reunite with his family, almost 40 years later. Khomdram Gambhir Singh was newly-married when he just disappeared from his house in Manipur back in 1978. The family had no clue about his whereabouts until he was seen in a video on YouTube! The family was able to trace him in Mumbai after spotting him in a video uploaded by a street photographer.
The video was uploaded in October, but Gambhir’s nephew spotted him in the video just recently. He then informed the family. But lack of finance proved a challenge for them to get him back. The video was also seen by Aheibam Dinamani, an assistant professor at NERIST university of Arunachal Pradesh. He then contacted the family to inform, Gambhir had been living on the streets in Mumbai. Another activist named Angellica Aribam then tweeted to the Mumbai Police asking for help. She asked if they could help in bringing him back.
Check out Mumbai Police’s tweet about finding Khomdram Singh and his family from Manipur:
.@AngellicAribam tweeted video of a stranded man in Bandra to @MumbaiPolice While we secured him, @SamarendraAtom tweeted & identified him as Khomdram Singh from Manipur,missing since 40 yrs! Our Twitter team coordinated b/w Bandra & Patsoi Pstn to reunite Mr Singh with family 😊 pic.twitter.com/9zZhOmZF3p
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 16, 2018
When the activist shared the photo, another user helped to identify him as his neighbor from their hometown. He gave the phone number of the family. All of them collectively helped find Gambhir and get in touch with the family. Mumbai Police successfully traced him and kept him safeguarded. They also got in touch with the family and two people from local Patsoi police station from Manipur will come to Mumbai to take him back. Gambhir’s younger brother Kullachandra, 57, will also come to fetch him in Mumbai day after. Kulachandra said, “I could not believe when a nephew of mine came running to me with a video footage of my brother. When I saw the video, I could not stop crying. I could neither sleep nor eat thereafter. I was very happy to know that he is alive. This is like waking up from a nightmare,” in a report of Hindustan Times.
Check Angelica's tweet thanking the Mumbai Police:
Thanks @MumbaiPolice for locating the man and safeguarding him in your custody. His family will bring him back to Imphal after 40 years. Thanks everyone for your help.
I'm now deleting the original tweet. https://t.co/pEhDFHc7Jm
— Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) April 15, 2018
Gambhir was an ex-rifleman and separated three months after his marriage. He did not even inform anyone before he left the house and the family tried many times to find him. The video in which he was seen, Gambhir was seen singing a song.
Check out the video which helped in tracing Gambhir:
While the Mumbai Police has again proved their promptness and efficiency, the overall incidence highlights how social media proves beneficial. From spotting him in a video, to a neighbour tracing the family. An activist contacting the Mumbai Police and his family coming to Mumbai to pick him up, this lost man really has had a journey!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2018 04:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).