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'I have lost my son, please bring back my daughter-in-law'

Onkar Singh, Neena Haridas

When they first heard that the Indian Airlines flight on which their son Rupin and his new bride Rachna were travelling on from Kathmandu was hijacked, the Katyals did not in their wildest dreams anticipate the tragedy that has now befallen their lives.

Rupin, 25, who was returning from his honeymoon in Nepal, was killed by the hijackers of Flight IC 814 on Friday night. Rachna and Rupin were married on December 9, a fortnight before his death.

"His only mistake was that he raised his head and looked at the hijackers, despite being warned not to do so twice," Pooja Tyagi, one of the passengers released this morning, told rediff.com from Dubai.

The distraught father refused to believe that his son was dead and insisted that the IA authorities confirm the news first. Mr Katyal had overheard a conversation about Rupin's murder between a journalist and IA officials. Both Mr and Mrs Katyal collapsed when IA officials confirmed the tragedy.

"Mera ladka tho gaya, meri bahu wapas lao, (I have lost my son, please bring back my daughter-in-law)," the wailing father was heard asked IA official repeatedly. Rachna is still being held hostage on the plane.

Rupin's father was later rushed to hospital as his condition deteriorated following the news of his son's death.

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