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Mystery surrounds Russian's disappearance

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of a Russian economist for almost a month now, with security agencies and Russian embassy officials looking desperately for him.

Alexey Yrievich Ivanov, 34, arrived in New Delhi on April 17, on a month-long trip to the Himalayas. "He wanted to go to the Himalayas and Himachal Pradesh," said Igor Konradski, official spokesman for the embassy. He admitted that there was "no information of him till now". The embassy has petitioned the home ministry and ministry of foreign affairs pointing out that he was supposed to catch the return flight to Moscow on May 16, but had not yet turned up. Ivanov is an economist working with a private company, Impulse Technique Laboratories in Moscow.

Nina Ivanova, Ivanov's mother who is in Moscow, contacted Russian foreign ministry officials and informed them that her son had not reached the country as scheduled. In turn the ministry alerted the Russian embassy in New Delhi.

While the embassy was making inquiries, a local travel agent informed them that Ivanov had not collected his return ticket. The secretary at Gobind Sadan, which was dealing with his ticket, was told that he would return by May 13 to collect his ticket and travel money, amounting to approximately $100.

The missing economist's mother is in "touch with the ambassador here", and the ambassador has given orders to all concerned to keep a watch on the situation, the spokesman said. "We are taking all steps to track him down," he said.

According to embassy officials, they have been told that someone matching Ivanov's description was seen in and around Nagar and Kulu in the first two weeks of May. "But there has been no breakthrough based on that information," sources said.

Ivanov was supposed to travel from New Delhi to Gangotri by bus. From there he was planning to go to Gaumukh and Nadanbadan. The Russian embassy told the MEA that Ivanov could have crossed Kalandani Pass to Badrinath. He was also planning to visit Rajaji Park in Uttar Pradesh and then proceed to Himachal Pradesh.

"He came on a private visit, so we don't know exactly what his travel plans were," said Konradsky.

Though there are several theories doing the rounds, police officials insist that "there are no definite indications." However, "it is possible that he may be at some holy place in the Himalayas, as he was very religious," embassy officials say.

In the past there have been two instances when Russians have gone missing in India. In the first case, Igor Guejo went missing on March 17, 1985, to surface later in America seeking political asylum. And in 1993, the first secretary of the embassy, Alexander Ganitch, disappeared from Delhi, leaving behind his family. He resurfaced after five days in Kulu.

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