Stranded German finds refuge in a gurdwara

BEAS: Stuck in India after a brawl in Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Holgar Misch, a 44-year-old German national, is living in gurdwaras to make both ends meet.

BEAS: Stuck in India after a brawl in Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Holgar Misch, a 44-year-old German national, is living in gurdwaras to make both ends meet.

HT Image

Misch, who was booked by Himachal Police for a fight, has gone from pillar to post for help. He has also sought assistance from Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj through a tweet.

As the police took his passport, Misch, currently on bail, has stayed in different gurdwaras in the region. Though he also went to the German Embassy to seek help, nothing came of it.

At a local gurdwara here, Misch told HT, “I had a fight with a group of local boys in Himachal Pradesh in July. The police registered a case against me; even my passport was taken. Although I was also injured, nobody listened to me. I only acted in self-defence.”

Misch said authorities at the hospital where he was treated did not give him authentic reports of his original X-ray, which showed broken ribs.

He said, “I went to the embassy but its officials did not support me either. Now I have written to Sushma Swaraj but no reply has come till now.”

“I am collecting money as I want to get my scan done so I can prove that my ribs were broken in the fight. I will show the report to the court and embassy as well to prove that even I was hurt,” the German said.

Misch thanked the Sikh community for its help. “It is tough for me to survive without money. They are helping me with food and a place to live. They have given me shelter and unconditional love, which I will share with my community when I am back in Germany,” said Misch.

Daya Singh, ‘granthi’ at the gurdwara here, said, “He can live here till the time he wants. We are supporting him with food.”