Game Over - In Kabul & New Delhi

By Manuwant Choudhary

Game Over !!! Abhay Singh remembers these words sharply when the Taliban in all their black turbans and klashnikovs raided their cricket field in Kabul.

The Afghan security surrounded the television crew and when Abhay said he had work to do, he was told curtly, "You can work only if you live. Game Over !"

Abhay from Bihar  works for a television agency that fixes the giant TV screens for sports channels.

His few days in Kabul were not his best as his uncle had passed away in his village but his agency did not give him any leave.

So instead he asked his wife in Delhi to attend to the family grief.

In Kabul TV crews are told to always carry their passports on their body, a small laptop bag for a few clothes to change into and absolute essentials like medicines etc.

The cricket match was going fine...the stadium was packed when the Taliban entered.

The entire crew were whisked away through kabul alleys not to their hotels but to the airport.

When Abhay asked them what would happen to their luggage, he was told it would be sent after things settle down !

On his return to Delhi when he arrived home he found the door to his apartment slightly ajar...so he thought his wife had not left for the village...when he called his wife she said she was in the village.

He enters the apartment and finds it completely empty, no cupboards or sofas...even the dining table.

"I thought I entered a wrong apartment. So I went out to check the number on the door...but it was mine..."

I enquired from neighbours and he was told they thought he had been transferred. "The other night movers and packers came to the building with a truck and the men carried away the stuff...There was even a manager giving orders..."

"When the truck was loaded the neighbours were told "Ek trip aur karenge."

But the truck did not return.

Abhay filed a police complaint but the IO said, "Kahani mein kuch twist hai..Patee bhee gayab aur patnee bhee..!"

Abhay told the officer, "Sir, pehle dacoit ko to pakariye...twist kya hai wo bhee dekhiye.."

The police did nothing...After Abhay contacted his uncle who works for the Intelligence Bureau the police began investigations.

The last he knows about the case is when the police informed him, "We have identified a truck with and RJ number (Rajasthan) which could be involved..."

On a positive note, "Abhay did get his suitcase from Kabul".