Mumbai: Bandra resident, addicted to unusually long walks, has gone missing

Yusuf Tafazzul has walked to Sangamner in Ahmednagar and to Gujarat in the past

A 32-year-old Bandra resident, addicted to unusually long walks, has gone missing. His relatives and friends in Bandra have been desperately searching for him in and around Mumbai. The individual, Yusuf Tafazzul left his Bandra home on January 8 and hasn't returned since. His father registered a missing persons complaint at Bandra police station on January 25.

Yusuf worked at a multi-national coffeehouse chain as a supervisor before the COVID-19-caused lockdown. After he lost his job, his communication altered. He would use limited words to speak to people. His elder brother Abdul said that Yusuf was undergoing psychiatric treatment for a certain mental condition. According to Abdul, in the past, Yusuf has walked to Marine Drive, Colaba, Sangamner, and other places in Maharashtra from his Bandra home. He also crossed the Maharashtra border and reached Gujarat on foot.

Yusuf always returned

"Whenever he left home on foot, he came back after a few days. He would always call our father and inform him of his location. But this time, he woke up on January 8 and left home saying that he was going to Ajmer. We thought he would come back in a few days, but we are yet to know of his whereabouts," said Abdul.

Along with the psychiatric treatment, Yusuf was also taking medication. "Yusuf has an irresistible urge to go everywhere on foot. We felt that something was amiss so we took him to several neuropsychiatrists for treatment. Still, he would insist on going out for really long walks. We would be very surprised because he would never feel tired after returning," Abdul said.

"We have a motorcycle at home but he never used it. Once, he went to Sangamner in Ahmednagar from Bandra on foot to meet an aunt. Later, he walked to Gujarat…but he returned home," Abdul added.

No mobile phone

"We are worried for his safety and whereabouts, as he is not carrying his mobile phone with him. We have alerted all our relatives and friends in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, but we are yet to get any positive response," added Abdul, who has also made posters seeking people's help. The posters are being put up in public places.

Police's efforts so far

An officer from Bandra police told mid-day that they are looking for Yusuf. "We are contacting Yusuf's friends and checking the CCTV camera footage of the area to know if he walked or took a train to go to Ajmer, as Bandra railway station is very close to his house," said an officer. The officer added that Yusuf was addicted to chewing tobacco. "Accordingly, we are checking with all paanwalas if they have seen Yusuf in their area," said the officer. "We have also alerted other police stations and are in the process of pasting posters with his photograph and the word ‘MISSING' in big font across police stations and public places," the officer added.