Missing Thrissur Army man returns after 24 days, family awaits answers

Guruvayoor: It was around 10.30 pm on Saturday when Gafoor, returning from the mosque, spotted a man standing alone by the roadside near his house in Guruvayoor. As he moved closer, he realised it was his son—Farseen Gafoor (28)—who had been missing for 24 days.

Farseen, a nursing assistant with the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, had disappeared during a journey to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, where he was set to begin a three-month training programme for pharmacists at the Military Hospital.

“He was just standing there in casuals, looking confused. There was no one else around. It wasn’t even a junction. When I approached him and called out, he recognised me immediately. But he couldn’t remember anything about the past few weeks or how he ended up back here,” Gafoor told Onmanorama.

Farseen had no ID, luggage, or belongings with him. “We don’t know whether someone helped him or if he travelled by bus. No one in the neighbourhood saw him arrive. We even suspect he might have gotten down somewhere else and walked here,” Gafoor added. He had returned to Kerala from Muscat 15 days ago after learning about his son's disappearance.

“He isn’t speaking to anyone and doesn't recall anything. Although physically he seems fine—not overly tired or injured. We consulted a doctor, and he’s been prescribed medication,” Gafoor said. “When we ask him questions, he responds with broken, unrelated sentences. But he does recognise us.”

The family has informed the Guruvayoor police, who advised them to avoid questioning Farseen for now and to continue medical treatment. They are now considering taking him to a military hospital for further evaluation.

Farseen had left Pune on July 9 and boarded a train from Mumbai the next day. His last communication was a call to his wife, Zareena, on the night of July 10 while travelling aboard the Mumbai Bandra–Ramnagar SF Express. He told her he was tired and planned to sleep.

Phone records later revealed that Farseen had gotten off at Izzatnagar railway station, just before Bareilly, around 4.30 am on July 11. His phone was briefly traced to East Nagar, about 1.3 km from the station, before it was switched off. His ticket, too, was confirmed only up to Izzatnagar, suggesting he may have intended to travel the remaining distance by road. However, he never arrived at the military hospital.

Farseen’s brother, Faheem, had travelled from Dubai soon after his disappearance to help search for him, but had recently returned after weeks of unsuccessful attempts. The family had filed a missing person case with the Guruvayoor police under Section 57 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011. The case was later transferred to Izzatnagar police in Uttar Pradesh.

“Now that he’s returned, the Izzatnagar police will handle further legal procedures, including whether he needs to be produced before a court,” a Guruvayoor police official said.

Farseen had joined the Army five years ago while studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at Sree Krishna College. He married Zareena, a dietitian at a private hospital in Muthuvattor, in 2024. Zareena is currently six months pregnant. Farseen had last visited home, where he lives with his father Gafoor, mother Fousiya and younger brother Faris, in February this year.