Dubai: The remains of Alwin Prakash Kundar, a native of Kundapur who was murdered in Sharjah nearly two months ago, reached India on Friday, as Sharjah Police issued a clarification denying media reports that his wife and son had been missing.

According to Sharjah Police, Alwin’s wife Tina and their son were not missing but had left the UAE and returned to their hometown. Police said there was no missing-person report concerning the two in its records and urged the media and public to rely on official sources instead of circulating unverified information.

Alwin, who hailed from Kundapur, had been working at Sharjah Airport for around 14 years. He was living in the UAE with his wife Tina, a school teacher, and their son, who was studying in Class 10.

According to Alwin’s family, his last contact with his brother Anil Prashant Kundar was around July 20. When Alwin did not answer a phone call, a message was sent from his number saying that he was safe and resting. The family became suspicious because Alwin usually communicated through voice messages rather than text messages. There was no further contact with him.

A friend later visited the flat provided to Alwin by his company to make inquiries. The building watchman reportedly told him that Alwin had returned to India. The company’s human resources department also initially gave the family similar information. However, the family said Alwin had not arrived in India. After passport records reportedly indicated that he had not left the UAE, a missing-person complaint was filed with Sharjah Police.

During the search, Alwin’s Toyota car was found in Sharjah on the road leading towards Oman on August 12. His body was recovered from the boot of the vehicle, dismembered into nine pieces and placed in two bags. DNA testing later confirmed the remains as those of Alwin Prakash Kundar.

Subsequent forensic findings indicated that Alwin had suffered two stab wounds to the chest before his body was dismembered. However, the motive for the killing and the identities of the accused have not been fully disclosed publicly.

During the investigation, Alwin’s family was unable to contact his wife Tina and their son. A September 24 report by The Times of India, quoting the family, said the two were believed to have travelled to India around July 26 or 27. The family, however, had refrained from drawing a firm conclusion without seeing a copy of the FIR. The report also quoted the family as saying that CCTV footage from the flat showed two men and a woman carrying luggage, although it was not confirmed whether the woman was Tina.

The latest clarification from Sharjah Police has now removed a key ambiguity surrounding the matter. Police have made it clear that Tina and her son were not missing and had left the UAE for their hometown. Police have neither identified them as suspects in the murder nor stated that they had prior knowledge of the killing. Therefore, there is currently no basis to conclude that they were involved in the murder or knew about it beforehand.

Sharjah Police said that after receiving information about the murder, specialised teams examined the crime scene, collected evidence and other information, and conducted forensic examinations. By correlating the information gathered during the investigation, investigators established details of the crime and initiated legal proceedings against suspects. The case was subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action.

Meanwhile, Alwin’s remains were taken to his residence in Kundapur on Friday morning after arriving through Mangaluru airport. Following nearly two months of legal procedures and other formalities, the family performed his last rites.

Another issue has also emerged in the case, with Alwin’s family alleging that money was withdrawn from his bank account even after his death. The family said it did not know either the amount withdrawn or who had made the withdrawals. No individual has so far been publicly identified or held responsible in connection with the alleged withdrawals.

Following the latest clarification by Sharjah Police, attention in the case remains focused on the motive behind Alwin’s murder, the identification of the suspects, the circumstances of the killing and the ongoing legal proceedings. In view of the police clarification, it would not be accurate to describe Alwin’s wife and son as “missing.”