PTI reports that a family from Jharkhand has claimed to have located their missing relative at the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj after a search lasting 27 years.
The lost man, Gangasagar Yadav, who is now a 65-year-old Aghori monk identified as Baba Rajkumar, disappeared in 1998 after going to Patna. Since that time, his family had no news regarding his location. His wife, Dhanwa Devi, was left to care for their two sons, Kamlesh and Vimlesh, on her own.
Murli Yadav, Gangasagar’s younger brother, recalled: “Over the years, we lost hope of ever seeing him again until one of our relatives attending the Kumbh Mela discovered a man who looked like Gangasagar and captured his photograph. The picture was sent to us, and I, along with Dhanwa Devi and their two sons, hurried to the Kumbh Mela, determined to bring him home.
However, when his family confronted him with his past identity as Gangasagar Yadav, he refused to acknowledge that truth. Instead, he declared himself a Sadhu from Varanasi and rejected any connections to his former life.
He continued to deny all those realities, yet they recognized distinct traits: long teeth, a forehead injury, and a prominent scar on his knee—all of which appeared to validate the belief that he was indeed Gangasagar.
Dhanwa Devi and Murli Yadav are seeking a DNA test to confirm the identity.
“We will wait until the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela and, if necessary, we will request a DNA test. If the test results do not match, we will apologize to Baba Rajkumar,” Murli Yadav stated.
Some family members have returned home, while others remain at the Mela, keeping a close watch on Baba Rajkumar and his Sadhvi companion. They are prepared to pursue legal action if the DNA test supports their assertion.
Gangasagar’s disappearance had profoundly impacted his family, especially his young children. His eldest son was only two years old at that time, and his younger son had not even been born yet.