Three ITBP personnel from N K’taka return home; families relieved

Belagavi/ Gadag: Three Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel from North Karnataka returned home from war-torn Afghanistan, much to the relief of their families.
The three individuals in question had been deployed as commandoes, part of a security team at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which was attacked after the Taliban usurped power in the Afghan capital. Dastgir Mulla from Chikkodi, Manjunath Maali from Bagalkot and Ravi Nilagar from Gadag, had been working in Kabul since 2019, and are currently quarantined in New Delhi.
Maali recounted to TOI the harrowing experience they endured when the embassy came under attack. “We were attacked four times when we were en route the Kabul Airport from the embassy,” said Maali. Senior diplomatic officials and the commandoes left Afghanistan on board a special flight on August 16.
Mulla’s wife Ravoof, who is in her eight month of pregnancy, had been calling him frantically since August 13, impatient to learn about his state. Mulla said that, while instances of violence were common in Afghanistan, the situation turned particularly chaotic after the Taliban seized power in the capital. “People could be seen running on the streets, and one could hear shots being fired every 30 minutes. The Taliban did not want those in the Indian Embassy to leave since they wished to negotiate with our government. When they learnt that we were evacuating the embassy, they gheraoed the office and started firing in the air. We defended the embassy, and did not allow them to enter the office,” Mulla added. His wife Ravoof was ecstatic on hearing his voice over the phone when Mulla called her from Delhi.
The commandoes, who arrived in Gujarat from Kabul, travelled to New Delhi by road, where they are quarantined. They are expected to stay for a month’s time in the National Capital, where they will complete necessary formalities, before travelling to Karnataka.
In Balaganur village in Gadag, Ravi Neelagar’s family was joy unbound on learning of their son’s safe return from Afghanistan. Neelagar has been working as a constable with the ITBP for the past 13 years, and was posted to Afghanistan in October 2019.
It was not without palpitations that the family awaited news of Neelagar after they learnt of the Taliban’s takeover. They recalled the attack on the contingent of 200 soldiers, who were to be airlifted on August 17, by Taliban militants. It was only when they spoke to Neelagar on a video call on Saturday that they heaved a sigh of relief. He is expected to return home once the quarantine period is over.
Neelagar’s mother Neelavva, wife Yellavva and son Santosh, who are in Hulkoti village, expressed their joy on hearing of his return to India.
- (With inputs from Sangamesh Menasinakai)