Have you seen Jonathan Spollen? Missing in Rishikesh since February 3rd, 2012

David, I'm sorry to hear about Jonathan and hope there's some good news for you soon.

I've sent a message to the Irish Embassy's IndiaMike user account to alert them to this thread. Hopefully they'll join in or contact you direct, if you're not already in contact with them.

In the meantime, do you have any questions about your travel to Rishikesh? I guess you are arriving in Delhi, do you know how you are getting to Rishikesh? If you have any questions about this please ask, someone will be able to help.

<cross-posted with OceanTragic just now>

Yes; only to add and explain to David, hotels (or guesthouses, homestays, anything and whatever they may be called) need to have permission to let foreigners stay there. The process involves this C Form, theoretically to be filled in by the guest (or by the hotel for them), and registered by the local authorities.

Don't expect too much of this, there are many ways for this to go wrong: Places may just not insist on these formalities, only because they are indeed informal and friendly about it, or perhaps not sticking to the rules so much or operating somewhat under the radar themselves, etc. Guests themselves may get tired of filling in these forms all the time, and just fill in anything there (John Doe, concert pianist, passport number XYZ123, going from here to there where they've never been and have no intention to). Then finally one dreads to think where all this paperwork and usually in triplicate or whatever is supposed to get neatly registered at all.

But theoretically, a visitor in India would be leaving behind a paper trail. (And just filling in some nonsense as outlined has gotten much more difficult, since places now are technically required to take a copy of your passport and visa details, and they'll often insist on it. Still, there are places who don't.) It is certainly one avenue that you, or the police for you, must absolutely follow.

Sorry, I can not help more than I gave to my facebook your polster.
I hope your son is ok.

Absolutely. David, have you been to India before? Landing there for the first time can be flabbergasting enough under the best of circumstances.

That's not to worry you any more than necessary and than you'll already be, but let us know and people here will be willing and able to guide you along if only in writing, to hopefully make it as smooth as possible for you.

M it's not really the moment to throw a spanner in the works -

i would absolutely rely on the C form trail as a starting point, and not underestimate the LIU capabilities of being able to trace somebody if they are motivated to do so. Rishikesh being as it is a major tourist hub, the LIU again absolutely know who's who and what is what in the hotel/accomodation stakes... these days it is too risky for a place not to have C forms and to submit them, chances therefore are strong to certain that Jonathan's previous accommodation can be traced via this route.

Do you fill a c form in at a Ashram too Paleface?? I ask as I've never stayed in one.

Was you son carrying an ATM/Debit card? If so please get in touch with his bank and enquire about recent transaction, the ATM location and the amount of money withdrawn. This is very important.

Usually Yes indeed, nobody wants to give a free invitation for the Police onto the premises. A state of cooperation with the LIU/FRO guys most often yields getting the desired work done, which is hopefully what will happen here.


Mr.David Green. Where was the last email, if any, you had received? That too can be tracked to a location?

Just curious and sorry if I missed it, but was he supposed to be home or left India by now? Because it's still Febuary. Maybe and hopefully he's somewhere where he can't contact anyone

Were you used to him contacting you frequently? Because he is 28.

And hope all turns out well!!!

This is a good point Ananda. It's easy to forget that there are still places in India - such as villages in the hills - where it's not possible to make international phone calls or access the internet.

David, I wish you well for your own travel to Rishikesh. As was said above, please do ask here if you have any questions about travelling, where to stay etc. And please keep us updated if you have any more information.

Also, cell phone usage, where applicable.

Yeah, if he's still supposed to be traveling in India, I think all this worry is very premature. He's 28 and looks like a hippy type with long hair. Maybe he's up in the mountains smoking chillums?

Would be awful embarrassing for him to appear someplace and see posters of him hanging up and the police and his embassy looking for him just because he hasn't written home in 3 weeks!

If he is still supposed to be in India, I can't imagine the embassy doing anything, since there's no proof of anything. Just because he hasn't written home!

But since the father didn't include such details, we really don't know much.

But hope all is well and hope this whole thing was just a parent totally overreacting.

Yes, if you are in an area where C forms are compulsory (and I know this applies to Rishikesh), ashrams insist that you fill out the form - same as hotels.

Your leaping to a conclusion of the character of the guy, based on a bloody haircut, does seem a little insensitive n'est pas? Of course he is probably fine, but we also know that shit happens, and so unless one knows the definitive story, let's stick to supporting the distressed parent and solving the mystery asap.

Erm, he's been missing since 3rd February. I don't think over three weeks is premature.

Erm, he's an international journalist who works in Hong Kong. Hardly a stereotypical hippy.

Any parent would be happy to be embarrassed as long as they get their kid back. Three weeks is way long enough.

Generally I quite like your posts but if this is the best help you can give please steer clear of this thread.