Manuallaya Resorts (Ambassador Resorts) employee missing for around 14 years from Manali, Himachal Pradesh (India)

I started writting this blog with a hope to get some advice/assistance regarding my younger brother, Devinder Singh, who is missing from Manali since 11/June/2010.

At the time of incident, Devinder Singh was working with Manuallaya Resorts (formely Ambassador Resorts) in Manali since March 2010. Devinder has done 3 years diploma in hotel management and had previously worked with best known hotels in New Delhi, Goa and Ooty. Initially he had joined in services deptt. and later was assigned role of Order Taker. Surjeet, the suspect, worked in service deptt and had joined Ambassador hotel around 1 month earlier than Devinder. Surjeet hails from Tehsil Budsar in Hamirpur district. Devinder is from Palampur Tehsil in Kangra district.  

The entire story was recited by Surjeet Singh, the prime suspect in this case. Only he or his fellows knows what exactly happened on the day of incident. Devinder's family came to know about this shoking incident after 3-4 days when they received call from hotel.

Below is the script of what Surjit informed us about the incident.

On Friday 11-June-2010 at 2:30pm, Devinder finished his morning shift  and went to Surjeet's room. Both decided to go to market. Between 5:00 to 6:30pm, both drank liquor at a Tibetan shop somewhere on the corner of the hill. Then they roamed around in Mall Road and Ram Bagh in Manali downtown.

At 9:30 pm, they came to SBI ATM near the Manali bus stand. Devinder told Surjit that he wants to withdraw cash. Devinder waited for his turn in the ATM queue while Surjit made a call to his home staying at a distance of merely 10-15 foots. After the call that hardly lasted a minute, Surjit realized that Devinder is not in the queue. He searched him around the area but couldn't locate him. He never mentioned that he tried to call on Devinder's mobile. He went to his room and informed his room partner (Anil) regarding the incident. Anil went to main road to search Devinder but could not find him and came back to his room. They didn't bothered to inform hotel management about the incident in the night. Next morning, they informed hotel manager regarding this who adviced Surjeet to report it to police.

When Devinder didn't reported at work for 2 days, On Sunday, 13/june/2010 Devinder’s parents were informed about this incident by hotel. On Monday, 14/June/2010, Devinder's cousin called up hotel to inquire about the incident. He was connected to Devinder's captain who spoke to Surjeet regarding the incident. At that time, surjeet informed that the incident happened on Sunday(13/june) at 9:00pm . Later on surjeet informed that it happened on Saturday(12/june) and lastly he confirmed that the incident happened on Friday(11/june).

Devinder was using Dual Sim Mobile phone. He was using Airtel and S-Tel sim cards. Devinder’s mobile records indicated that the Airtel Sim was last used on Thursday(10/6) while the S-Tel Sim was lastly used on Friday(11/6). The mobile was switched off on Friday around 9:30pm (at the same time when these guys were at the ATM site if we trust Surjeet’s version of the story. We tried calling at him mobile numbers since when we heard this news but it is "Switched Off".

Devinder's Cellphone details are as follows:

Manufacturer : Maxx Mobile

Model No. : MX463 (Dual Sim Phone)

IMEI No. : 357415038714936

S_IMEI No.: 357415038714944

I contacted Maxx's customer care to check if they can assist anyway in tracking the cellphone using the IMEI no(s) but their response was "This system is not available in Maxx mobile. You have to FIR in Police station and block your sim card."

Following are the active mobile numbers :

AirTel Mobile#: (+91) 98 0525 4200

S-Tel Mobile #: (+91) 91 2919 6460

That is the only information we have about Devinder Singh. And it was all informed by Surjeet to his manager and police. We have no clue what happened to Devinder and whether he is still alive or not. We have tried to search him in most of places in manali but no success.

Police had doubt that Devinder may have taken multiple doses of drugs since Manali is infamous for drugs. Firstly, he was not a drugs addict at all. We do accept he used to drink socially. But the possibility of drugs is ruled out. Even if he had taken drugs, he must have felt hungry after some days and must have been seen in public asking for food or stealing food.

As regarding possiblity of affair with any girl and ran away with her without informing anyone. As far as we know, he never involved in those activities. But we do accept that we don't know if something of that sort happened during his around 3 months stay in Manali. I think this is too short time to get fell in love and take such decision. If he has been in love, he must have informed his parents or atleast his close relatives or friends about it.

Regarding his mental condition, he was absolutely fit and sound. He had no mental stress at all. He sounded cool while talking to his sisters on the day of incident. Even none of his colleagues mentioned anything that may indicate that he was stressed on the day of incident. There was no stress from family side not even for job. He had no liabilities at all. He was very cool minded, free man and friendly guy.

He was planning to switch to another hotel where he was being offered better salary and role. Prior to working with this hotel, he has worked for around 2 years in Taj Savoy Hotel in Ooty (Tamil Nadu,India). He did his internship with reputed hotels in Delhi and Goa. We checked there also, and his record there was excellent. Our parents are staying in Himachal Pradesh and they didn't wanted him to work so far from them. They would never had dreamt that they will be facing this day after he comes to Himachal.

As per his manager in Ambassador Hotel, he has not discussed with him regarding his resignation. But he was not happy with the nature of work he was doing here. That's obvious because he had spent 3 years in understanding in and out of this trade before diving into this job.

There are many flaws in the story described by Surjeet.

1. How come Surjeet forget the date of incidence so quickly. Initially he told that incident happened on Sunday, and later he said it happened on Saturday and finally he said it happened on Friday.

2. When police asked who paid for the drinks, he first said that he paid for that. Later on he said both paid for the drink.

3. While waiting outside the ATM, Surjeet first said that he called up his parents and after the call he realized that Devinder is missing. When asked again sometimes later, he told that he was dialing the number and when he turned back he realized Devinder is missing. Later on he said he is not sure whether Devinder was standing in the queue or not.

4. When Surjeet came back to his room, he informed his room partner Anil that Devinder is missing. And Surjeet asked Anil to go and search for Devinder. Anil didn't asked Surjeet that where did he last saw Devinder or any other question. He headed to the main road to search devinder. If Anil didn't know where Devinder and Surjeet were, why did he rushed to main road. Why didn't he first checked in hotel which was hardly 5 minutes away from his room.

5. When Anil came back and could not find Devinder, why didn’t they informed Hotel manager about it. Why did they waited for the morning while the hotel is hardly at 5 minutes walk from their room.

6. Devinder's mobile was switched off on Friday @ around 9:30pm exactly at the same time when Devinder and Surjeet were at the ATM. Is it a mere coincidence?

7. Rs. 3500.00 cash was found in Devinder's suitcase in his room. If he has so much cash, why would he go to ATM to withdraw cash. The bank statement shows that there was no transaction from Devinder's account on 11/June. It makes me wonder if Surjeet is telling the truth or has added the ATM episode to misguide peoples searching for Devinder. May be they had any argument while drinking and that ended up in something wrong.

8. Why did they decided to drink wine @ 5-6:00pm ? Moreover, how come there was no one around when they were driking wine at the shop. Even the shop owner refused to recognize their faces later.

Based on the story as told my surjeet himshelf, We SUSPECT Surjeet is involved in this incident. But he is always saying that he has no idea what happended at the ATM. He claims he is innocent. Even we don't want that if he is innocent, he should not face any harrasment because of wrong suspicion. But if he is involved, then probably he will not accept his crime unless he is taken on remand by police. I reiterate we SUSPECT Surjeet after listening to what he has told us and police so far. I believe it is the responsibility of police to bring out the truth based on the facts.

I feel really sorry to say but i have to admit it after spending 4 days with cops, even the role of Himachal Police is little suspicious in handling this case. Police initially logged missing report rather than logging FIR for the incidence. The reason they mentioned was that to log FIR you need to mention whom you suspect. As per police "Without naming/suspecting anyone, you can’t log a FIR". They agreed to log FIR after lot of political pressure. (FIR No.: 148 under Section 364) . 

Police informed that atleast 2 person’s statement is required when you want to log a FIR, 1 is not sufficient. Not sure if this is correct ? That means if my father had gone alone in search of Devinder, he would have to come back home to persuade someone else to company him and give his statement even though he has nothing to do with this case.

One of the 'intelligent' Police officer informed that we are blaming Surjeet for this incident. But later if Surjeet is found to be innocent he will log FIR against you guys and you may have to be in custody. Since this is our first time we have ever visited Police Station, we trusted them blindly. But I think their motivation was to force us to avoid logging an FIR. I don't know what his intention was, knowing how corrupt the police is.

It took 5-6 days for police to send request to service providers to get last call details. As of 28-JUN-2010, police has not received the call details but as per S-Tel executives they have sent the call details to SP office, Kullu atleast 3 days back.

Police says this case is very strange and they don't have magic stick (Jaadu ki Chhadi) to solve the issues. I wonder how the police deptt. has solved the high profile cases in recent times that were brought in limelight by media. Did they had some magic stick with them which himachal police lacks ?

I am not sure if police has asked all service providers to trace IMEI numbers of Devinder’s mobile so that we can get some clue if the mobile was used by any other person in future. This bring me suspicious on the capability of Himachal Police in solving such kind of cases. They are not even ready to close the case so that we can check with authorities to get the case handled by CID/CBI if possible.

On 27-JUNE-2010, I called up Mr. O.P. Sharma who is incharge of this case. His mobile no. is (+91) 94 181 95 294. I asked him if there is any progress on the case or not. The answer I got from him was pathetic. He told "Entire police is busy with Sonia Gandhi's Manali trip and we can't do anything till she has flown back to Delhi. I just pray to God that Soniaji completes her tour asap so that police has time to look to issues reported by general public. His conversation was rude and went ahead saying that "We are not afraid of you guys. Go ahead and complain against me with who ever you want to". This fellow is more worried of his promotion than the case he is in charge of. For the police, it is just another case to investigate. But for us, it is about life of our family member. It's truly said, only the bearer knows where the shoe pinches. Had any of these folks had been gone though this situation, i would have liked to see if they would have investigated the case in same pace or not. May God give them some wisdom. Unfortunatly, I didn't had option to record the conversation so that the same can be used against him in future.

Himachal is called as "Dev Bhumi(Land of Gods)" and after this incident I would say it is called so because here if anything goes wrong then you just have to leave it up to God.

One thing i noticed in Manali is the "Drugs Tourism" that is flourishing in each nook and corner of Manali. I don't know whether police is aware of this and still not taking any action intentionally -OR- they don't know anything at all. I was surprised to see Manali as a florishing drugs center than a tourist place. May be if police cracks down on these drugs mafias, it will affect the tourism business there.

I don't have words to express what my father and mother is going through at this moment. Few days back, they were in rush to find a bride for their son, but they never knew that in coming days they will have no clue about their son himshelf.

Unfortunalty, we don't have any political links through whom we can make us pressure on these cops and remind them of their moral responsibilities. I personally feel ashamed that even being educated, I am helpless in searching my brother. I can just pray that he is alive and should come back home asap. I have family to take care of and liabilities to pay, so i can't just sit at home waiting for things to get right someday. Thinking pratically, i have returned back to my job but my mind is still revolving around this one-of-it's-kind incident and what will it end up as.

I don't know if police has done anything related to following points:

1) I saw CCTV cameras in manali. Not sure if they are functional just wastage of money. But in case they are functional, police should try to see the footage for the day of incident and see if they get any clue from that

2) Check with the Bank branch and view the recording done inside the ATM. This will help us to see if Devinder had came inside the ATM or not.

3) Check the background of Surjeet from police stations where he belongs to and where he has previously worked to see if there is any previous track record of this guy.

Please contact any of following in case you need any kind of information in this regards:

1) SHRI RAJ KUMAR (Devinder's Father)

Mobile No.: +91 98059 42185, +91 88945 60791

2) RANBIR SINGH (Brother)

Mobile No.(PUNE) : (+91) 98 22 33 55 38

Email: ranbir1977 [at] gmail [dot] com

Mailing Address:

Village: Kandherka

P.O.: Bhoda (Lohnti) via Daroh

Police Station : Bhawarna

Tehsil : Palampur

Distt: Kangra (Himachal Pradesh)  INDIA

Pin code 17 60 92

I even wrote to "PRESIDENT'S SECRETARIAT HELPLINE" about this incident.

I got following acknowledgement from the website. Your Request/Grievance Registration Number is : PRSEC/E/2010/10628. But they justdelegated the issue to state govt. rather than following up with them.

I also wrote to Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh through their eSamadhan initiative but it was useless. Application Number : POL/2010656 (Application Date: 19/07/2010 )

Any idea/thought that can help us will be of great help.




[26-april-2011]

Any advice/idea from anyone will be of great help. We have given up chasing with police and politians.
It's an indefinite wait for parents and family members