A man who went missing without a trace from a village in the Indian state of Punjab nearly 25 years ago has reappeared, triggering a family dispute after his wife refused to accept him following his unexpected return, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.
According to Indian media reports, Hansa Singh had disappeared around 25 years ago under mysterious circumstances.
After an extensive but unsuccessful search, his family presumed him dead.
In his absence, his wife Vimla was remarried to his younger brother, Sukh Singh, with the family’s consent.
The couple later had children and built a life together.
The case resurfaced recently when a mentally distressed man was found begging in the Narthur area of Uttar Pradesh.
During questioning, he identified himself as Hansa Singh.
Police subsequently contacted authorities in Punjab, prompting his brother and the village head to travel for identification.
Initially, his brother struggled to recognise him due to the passage of time and changes in appearance.
However, shared childhood memories and emotional exchanges eventually confirmed his identity.
His return has posed a dilemma for the family, particularly for Vimla.
Faced with a choice between her first husband and the life she had built over the past 22 years, she ultimately chose to remain with Sukh Singh and their children, declining to accept Hansa Singh.