Ranjit Singh Power: Family plead 'help us solve this terrible mystery'
A distraught family are pleading for help to solve the mystery of a leading Wolverhampton businessman who went missing more than a year ago.
Father-of-two Ranjit Singh Power, who owned the Park Hall Hotel in Goldthorn Park, was last seen at an airport in Amritsar, Punjab, on May 8 last year.
A murder investigation was launched, but no body has ever been found.
Last night, his brother Amrik Singh Power said: "When Ranj went missing, it was like a horror story and it has been ever since. But to me and my family it has been real life."
An international arrest warrant has now been issued by Interpol for a man from the Sandwell area suspected of kidnapping and murdering the businessman.
Speaking at the family home in Hordern Road, Wolverhampton, of the family's renewed sense of hope in finding answers to Ranjit's disappearance, brother Amrik, aged 51, said: "It won't bring us closure or comfort, we'll never have that.
"But it will give us a bit of peace of mind, knowing that justice has been brought.
"We'll never get over it, it'll always be in our minds, we keep replaying it over and over. It is like something that you watch in a horror movie, but to me and my family it has been real life."
The family have renewed their appeal for information ahead of what would have been Ranjit's 56th birthday tomorrow.
Mr Power said: "If anyone has any information they think might help building Ranjit's case, we appeal for them to please come forward."
Taxi driver Sukhdev Singh was arrested in Punjab last year and remains in custody.
Mr Power added: "Ranj used to go away for six to eight weeks at a time on business. So when he first went missing it was like he was just away for a while as normal.
"But now it feels almost worse, 16 months on, because we've all begun processing that in fact, he's not going to come walking through the door.
"We want it still to be fresh in people's minds and for them to come forward with any information they have."
Sister Kalwinder Kaur, aged 52, said: "Ranj was always there for us. He brought all the family together. You could rely on him. We want people to think about him and come forward if they know anything."
His mother Gurmit Kaur Power, aged 83, added: "Since Ranj disappeared I have had no life, I've just been existing. I just want the truth to come out."
The family, who also grieving the loss of their father Dharam Singh Power, aged 83, who died on May 5 this year.
"We are all one big family thanks to Ranj," Mr Power said.
"When dad was passing away, we were told he wouldn't last more than 48 hours. But he didn't pass away until a week and a half later. We were all around his bed and he kept looking around him like he was trying to spot Ranjit. I think when he realised Ranj wasn't coming, that's when he passed."
In February this year, the Black Country coroner recorded an open verdict after a body that was returned to the UK by Punjab police was revealed not to be that of Ranjit Power.
The body, found in a river in India, was initially thought to be that of the missing businessman but DNA and dental analysis ruled out this possibility.
"Words cannot describe what an ordeal that was," Mr Power said. "Can you imagine having to process and mourn over what you think is the body of your brother, your son, your father, and then be told that it's not him?
"I don't think he will ever be found, we just hope that he and dad are together in spirit now."
Emma said: "My father's love was immense and I cannot put into words how much I will miss him."
Gian said: "He was the most loving, caring son, brother, father, uncle and grandfather.
"He often had faith in people when others didn't."
