Reward in hunt for missing grandmother

THE son of a Wivenhoe grandmother who went missing in India more than eight weeks ago is to offer a one million rupee reward for information leading to his mother.

Greg Brisk is set to hold a press conference in Delhi to announce the £15,000 reward today , a huge sum in Indian terms, in the hope it will prompt people with vital information to come forward.

Mother-of-five Angela Brown, who lives in Brook Street, disappeared on November 27 last year, after a 17-hour train journey to Delhi, where she was due to meet a friend.

Nothing has been heard from the 65-year-old since then and her family are anxious to trace the train passengers who shared her carriage on the long voyage from Bombay, now known as Mumbai.

They are also hoping to appeal to any hospital staff who may have treated her if she fell ill.

Last night Mr Brisk, from Lexden, Colchester, explained why the reward was so important.

"The last known contact she had with other people was with the six other people who shared her train compartment. As only two of these have been contacted, our primary purpose is to find the other four.

"I cannot imagine that she would have sat with other people and not have talked of her plans," he said. "She may have befriended someone on the train and left with them."

The other explanation could be that she fell ill and was taken to hospital, perhaps from food or drink she had on the train, said Mr Brisk.

"I'd like to think that she's being looked after. She has no mobile and could be too ill to do anything," he said.

Mr Brisk was also hoping to appeal to people from the vast community of taxi and rickshaw drivers, who may have given her a lift.

"If she had gone more than a short distance, she'd not walk," he said.

Mr Brisk was on his second visit to India to look for clues as to his mother's whereabouts and has met Delhi's chief of police as well as the British High Commissioner.

"It would be difficult to ask for more senior attention," he said. "But in India things take a very long time - it is frustrating."

When he first went out in early January with his brother Robert, they were disappointed at how little had been done.

"Since then a number of positive things have followed. It is difficult to say they're not trying," he said.

Mr Brisk was offering his own family's money as reward for information leading to Mrs Brown being found.

"Whether she is alive or not is another matter. It is for a conclusion of the search," he said.

Mrs Brown, who has six grandchildren, was born in India and had always wanted to return. She fulfilled her wish several years ago and since then has returned for a number of holidays, each lasting for a few months at a time.

Mr Brisk said that the "devoted" grandmother always kept in touch while she was abroad. She had been due back in Bombay in time for Christmas. To the family, it had been "inconceivable" that she would not get in touch over the festivities.

"What I'd like is for someone to ring up and say she's fine and to come get her," he added.

Anyone who can help should phone Pc Tracey Allen of Colchester police on 01206 762212.