Abu Dhabi: The mother of missing Emirati teen Khalid Esmail Al Hosni has said how she now fears the worst after six days without news of her missing son.
Umm Khalid, of Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News she is afraid, as time passes, that the disappearance of Khalid, 19, could take a more sinister turn.
Khaild — who suffers from epilepsy — vanished from the hotel room he shared with his father in the Indian city of Bengaluru on Friday.
The teen and his father had travelled to the city on September 30 where Khalid was receiving treatment for his condition.
Tearful Umm Khalid also spoke of her deep gratitude to an army of Gulf News readers in India who have pledged their support in the hunt for Khalid.
She said: “I am praying for Gulf News readers, despite the sadness I feel, I am so happy that people interacted with me and with my case, bless you.
“I just miss my son and want him back home. I am worried also for my husband who is unwell and walking the streets with Khalid’s picture, showing it to people, to try and find him.
“I am worried about both of them.
“I am so low, six days have passed and I have heard nothing about my son, I don’t understand why I have heard nothing on where he is, I now fear the worst.”
Khalid hasn’t been seen since asking his father’s permission to leave their hotel room on Friday morning.
His father’s exhaustive search of a huge area over the past six days has failed to find the missing teenager.
Authorities in India and the UAE have been mobilised in the search for Khalid.
Umm Khalid said: “The UAE ambassador to India contacted me on Wednesday offering support and promised to act to find my son as soon as possible.
“I thank UAE authorities for their efforts too.
“We have asked the ambassador to search all of the jails just in case, they have already searched in one jail, along with a representative from the UAE embassy, “ Umm Khalid said.
Indian police are also trying to piece together Khalid’s movements in the days before he went missing.
His father Esmail Al Hosni said: “I know all about Khalid’s routines, life and his movements in the days before he went missing.
“We ate together, went together to hospital for treatment and returned to our hotel to sleep.
“Police want to hear from anyone who has seen my son but all the people in the surrounding area are scared of the police.
“One man told me he saw my son with two other teens, of the same age as my son.
“But the next day, the man denied it, I think he was afraid to talk to the police.”
He added: “Holding Khalid’s photo, I walk the city’s streets hoping that someone may have any information, even insignificant, that could shed some light on where my son is.
“I am tired and feel weak but I won’t give up until I have found my son, I need to know where he is.
“I appreciate the efforts of the UAE authorities who have not left me alone, they supported me and do their best, thanks to our Shaikhs and government.”
Khalid is described as about 182cm tall and of thin build.
He was wearing black shorts with a black T-shirt when he went missing.
His father, as well as authorities, have alerted all hospitals in the city.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru police have told Gulf News they are hopeful of finding Khalid soon.
“As per the findings of the investigations so far, no abduction is suspected in the case. The young man simply walked away from his hotel,” T. Sunil Kumar, Additional Commissioner (Law and Order) at Bangalore City Police, told Gulf News yesterday.
Kumar said police believe he might have gone wandering and lost his way.
“Since there is no hint of any criminal activity involved in the case, we are hopeful of finding his whereabouts soon,” the official added.
An official at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi told Gulf News they are in touch with the Indian authorities through the UAE diplomatic missions in India.
