Missing Jean-Baptiste Talleu

THREE YEARS

2010-12-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

On the 5th of december it will be the third anniversary of the disappearance of our son Jean Baptiste. First of all, Pierre and I would like to express our deep gratitude for all your support, whether material or spiritual.

Over these three years, we went three times in India: fifteen days in May 2008 with Vincent, our sixth child and Patricia his fiancée; four months in the winter 2008-2009, then three months in the winter 2009-2010 (which included one month with Jean Baptiste’s twin: Catherine).

We had contact with indian police and media, consulate authorities and press conferences. We did enquiries and went to the places where witnesses believed to have seen Jean Baptiste but all in vain. Often it was really difficult but this has allowed us also to discover India, and to be moved by this country.

During these trips, we have come close to an orphanage in Pondicherry and we are now sponsoring a little girl called Kaveri. We have met beautiful Indian people. They helped and supported us a lot. Many became friends.

We don’ forget that all these journeys have been possible thanks to all your help and we are very grateful. During these difficult years, you have supported us materially, spiritually, and encouraged us to keep our faith. We thank you from the core of our heart.

Now that the anniversary is coming soon, all our thoughts are with Jean Baptiste and we would like to do something.

During the year of 2010, a mess has been celebrated in the memory of Jean Baptiste every saturday morning in the church Notre dame des anges of Pondicherry. We will do the same for 2011.

Again we asked the Embassy to make a search in the media around the fifth of december.

Because we will not be in India this year for this sad anniversary, we have decided to start at home a three week retreat: to fast and pray, from the 15^th of november to the fifth of december, in order to feel our union through the heart with Jean Baptiste, and ask God for a sign.

Three years, three weeks, this number three, like the three days of search of Marie and Joseph unto the temple of Jerusalem where Jesus is finally found after three terrible days of anxiety for his parents, three days mysteriously was the will of god.

We have all lost dear ones, it is part of life. But it is not knowing what happened to Jean Baptiste that is really painful for us.

We pray for all the families who are in pain, and for all the people who disappeared and who were sometimes violently taken away from their families. We pray for all the people who have been ill treated, abused and confined. They are many of them in this world.

And we thank you particularly to support us during these three weeks by your affection, prayers or accepting to come and fast one day with us.

We will end this retreat by a mess for Jean Baptiste in the chapel Jean Paul II under the basilic Notre Dame de Lourdes, on saturday 11^th of december at 16.30h.

It is the priest Sayed Marroun, a lebanese father who knew Jean Baptiste well who will celebrate this mess. It will be a special celebration for Jean Baptiste, on the day of his 29^th birthday. You are all welcome to come and pray with us and unite our hearts together.

With all our affection,

Thank you,

Marie-Claire and Pierre Marie Talleu, in Villers les Nancy, on the 14 novembre 2010.

Press Release

2010-02-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

February 12th 2010

French cyclist on world tour missing in India : What does the Indian Police do ?

Parents of Jean-Baptiste TALLEU, the young cyclist who disappeared in India since December 2007 are currently in DELHI. It is the last stop of their trip that took them to MUMBAI, AMEDHABAD, PONDICHERY, and GOA. It is the 3^rd time they come to India looking for their son.

With no serious leads, and little resources, parents of Jean-Baptiste are trying to exchange information with the Indian authorities and local people to increase the awareness of this painful and alarming disappearance. They have 7 children.

Jean-Baptiste, a keen cyclist on a world tour, mysteriously disappeared in December 2007 when he set foot in India. He has never been heard of since his arrival.

The Indian police who has been referred in the beginning of 2008, does not seem to actively take part into the effort to shed some light on the case and to find this young man who was 26 yrs old when he went missing.

French police officers were sent by Rogatory commission from Nancy (France) to Mumbai in November 2009 to evaluate the situation with the Indian police. Despite what they were promised, the French police still haven’t been given the Indian case file that would help them find out the nature of the investigation that has been carried out by the Indian police.

Jean-Baptiste’s parents are very disappointed in view of the inactivity and obvious lack of motivation when it comes to finding the truth; they don’t feel like everything is done to help find their son. On their journey the parents of Jean-Baptiste often realized that the missing posters, when they exist, are kept in files or drawers, allowing very few policemen in India to be aware of the matter.

Keeping through thick and thin the hope to find their son alive, or at least to find out what has happened to him, they deeply thank the media for conveying their feelings and thus contributing in this case not getting closed. Contacts:

-French Embassy in New Delhi : Tel: 011 6118790

-Missing person bureau in Mumbai : ………022 2262 1549

-French consulate in Mumbai : …098 2032 1452

-For further information visit the website www.missingjbtalleu.com

-Contact in India : Hotel Rak International, Paharganj, main bazaar, where parents are staying.

-Tel Mr. & Mrs Talleu : India Phone Number - 00919600515513 till 20 February 2010

- France phone Numbers - 0033383406584 and Mobile 0033622078234

- email address - mctalleu@gmail.com

2009-12-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

CONSULAT GÉNÉRAL DE FRANCE À BOMBAY

MISSING

Jean-Baptiste Talleu

Still no information on Jean-Baptiste Talleu!

The disappearance of Mr. Jean-Baptiste Talleu, a French citizen, who was last seen on 5th December 2007 in Mumbai is a mystery.

The recent intervention by the French police allowed for the viewing of the effort put in by the Indian police but unfortunately still no trail nor clue that would help solve the mystery of his disappearance.

A description of Mr. Jean-Baptiste Talleu has been put up on the websites of the Embassy and
the Consulates General of France in India, as well as at all the Alliances Françaises in order to facilitate the search and enable any person who might have any information whatsoever in this regard, to come forward. A website is dedicated entirely to him: www.jbtalleu.com

We make an appeal once more to all persons likely to have any useful information on him. The parents of Jean-Baptiste Talleu want to relay this appeal directly to the media and on the eve of the 2nd anniversary of his disappearance, talk about their project that would help them continue their search for him, and should the need arise, also help other isolated people travelling in India.

I request you to kindly be present for the press conference organised on:

4th December, 2009 at 11 am
The Alliance française de Bombay,
Theosophy Hall, 40 New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020.

RSVP:
Ms. Snehal Agrawal Sharma
Deputy Press Attaché
Consulate General of France in Bombay
7th flr., Hoechst House, Nariman Point.
Tél: 022 6669 4026/ 98 69 05 19 25
Mél: snehal.agrawal@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Finally in Mumbay

2009-11-24T04:31:00.000-08:00

The parents of Jean-Baptiste have arrived on sunday 22nd of November 2009 in Mumbai, this is their third visit in India since Jean-Baptiste has disapeared.

They will be meeting with the Indian and French police, to meet with the French police superintendent who has been sent to India to investigate.

This 3rd visit will be easier for them as Marie-Claire has been learning English and finally manages to go pass the language barrier. They are already starting laying posters, giving away flyers, and doing everything they can to find their missing son.

Their local phone number: 00919600515513

OPERATION ITINERANT QG

2009-11-19T04:45:00.000-08:00

All-terrain vehicle scheme dedicated to Jean-Baptiste

In search of their son Jean-Baptiste, disappeared in India on the 5th of December 2007, the third visit to India of Pierre and Marie-Claire Talleu is being organised, based on their experience from previous visits.

India is a huge country, and we had our share of communication and accommodation troubles.

The alternative of a recreational vehicle, or rather an all-terrain equipped (or converted) van, set as a real QG touring, would be ideal. An idea is put forward….now we need to find the funds.

« We thought that travelling ourselves around India in a clearly visible vehicle would be the best means of communication. Indians are very curious and benevolent. The vehicle, preferably all-terrain, to be able to progress on the bad roads, with many large missing posters attached would attract itself press and TV wherever we go.

We could hand out leaflets in big quantities. Indian people ask for them and they listen attentively. They don’t throw them away but fold them and put carefully in their pockets. We have seen many people taking their mobile phones and adding the telephone number indicated on the leaflet to the contact list and taking picture of the Jean-Baptiste image.

The vehicle would need to be equipped at least with the minimum to allow sleeping inside. It is not necessary to have a real recreation vehicle. A solid car is needed, not at all luxurious that would draw attention only to the images of Jean-Baptiste.

Thus we would always have the communication with us and we would be exceptionally mobile and continuously visible, which is the aim of the search. It was the lack of mobility that bore upon us on our previous visits.

Veera, a Parsi friend who speaks English, French, Hindi and Marathi, offers to join us on a voluntary basis. She already proved herself a great helper during our meetings with the Mumbai Police.

While we can’t spend a whole year in India, we think that this vehicle dedicated to Jean-Baptiste should stay there and be available to whoever would accept take over this mission when we’re not there.

The French travellers we met often helped us and offered to take flyers with them.

We are convinced young travellers would be delighted to be able to discover India (often for a 6 month period, because of visa), in this useful vehicle dedicated in the search of Jean-Baptiste; or maybe students for their work experience in communication for example.

This project first formed on our last trip, where we faced difficult realities. But nothing is impossible when you really want it.

Thank you for helping us achieve this project for Jean-Baptiste.

Marie-Claire et Pierre Marie Talleu

The articles talk about!

2009-09-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of articles that speak of Jean-Baptiste, are links to PDF documents.

May 2009 :
- Est Républicain

February 2009 :
- Journal Indien

December 2008 :
- Malai Matlar
- Press Club
- The New India Express
- Dina Thanti
- Malai Matlar

October 2008 :
- Pelerin Magazine

May 2008 :
- Nice Matin
- Est Républicain
- Times of India
- Nice Matin
- DNA

April 2008 :
- Est Républicain
- Times of India
- Times of india
- ONA

March 2008 :
- France Dimanche
- Aujourd'hui en France
- Le Figaro
- FPJ
- France Soir
- Est Républicain
- Le Républicain Lorrain

Press conference in February

2009-04-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

Fifty-five-year old Marie Claire can barely hide her tears, while daughter Catherine cannot control them. Marie's son and Catherine's twin brother Jean-Baptiste Talleu has been missing for over a year now. The family had registered a complaint in December 2007.

"We often hope, but there has been no concrete news tracing him, the police told us," says Catherine.

Talleu, who would turn 27 this year, had set out on a world wide tour on his cycle in July 2007. He travelled through Europe, Iran, Dubai and was headed for Pondicherry via Mumbai before he disappeared.

Talleu had last called his mother from Dubai on December 2.

Marie and her husband Pierre have been putting up posters announcing a reward of Rs 2 lakh at various places for the past three months now. They have also travelled from Varkala in Kerala to New Delhi where Talleu was reportedly seen, but to no avail.

"We were disappointed, we believed the story of the man who called with information to be true," says Catherine.

The Claire family has even searched near Mumbai's Goregaon East area where he had last withdrawn money from an ATM. Though the French police hasn't been given permission to investigate Jean's disappearance in India, his parents are not giving up.

Catherine says, "We will stay back here and pursue the matter with the police."

Marie and Pierre hope to find their son alive some day, even if it means managing with whatever little English they know.

Jean-Baptiste's parents back in France

2009-03-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

Jean-Baptiste's parents are back in France after 4 months spent in India looking for their son. Unfortunately their search was unfruitful despite the few leads and the help of many people in India.

A message from Jean-Baptiste's mother:

"Sorry for not updating for a while, I had a very bad internet connexion in India, I just read messages people left and want to thank them very much.
Unfortunately, the last lead was probably a fake, we were not able to get any real concrete information from the person, and after we'd gone to many hospices, (which ones the consulate had already checked) we found there were no signs of Jean-Baptiste.

Back in Mumbai, we were able to visit many of these religious hospices and talk to Indian nuns. It appeared obvious that none of them would keep a foreigner without contacting the consulate or the authorities.

Soon we'll be giving news from the press conference in Mumbai."

Marie-Claire Talleu.

Missionary hospice close to New Delhi : a new lead to find Jean-Baptiste

2009-02-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

Jean-Batiste could have been seen in a Mother Teresa missionary hospice in New Delhi by a young man who visited the place volunteering. The french cyclist from the hospice had been robbed from his belongings and documents after an accident. The cyclist couldn't communicate with people as he appeared to have lost his mind.
Not long after, the young man saw "the missing JB advert" and recognized Jean-Baptiste, even though the cyclist from the hospice had his head shaved and a scar on his jaw. The young man informed us that he contacted Mumbai police, but he had impression of not being taken seriously. He then called in France but haven't succeeded because of language barrier.

One evening Pierre, the father of JB - who always wears a T-shirt with the picture of Jean-Baptiste - was approached by the same young man. He was informed of Mother Teresa hospice and possible lead.

We sent an email straight away to the embassy, who checked the lead the following day.
The witness couldn't remember the exact address therefore 7 Mother Teresa hospices were checked. The information couldn't have been confirmed in any of them.

We changed our plans (printing more posters) and we decided to leave Varkala and go up North, while visiting few ashrams. We should be in Mumbai around 15th February.
This new lead gave us so much hope we were ready to jump on the first plane to New Delhi.

Unfortunately, the witness is not able to remember the exact address. He is trying to contact his friend who visited the hospice with him to find out the addresse. The young man says he will be ready to come to New Delhi with us if his work allows him to.
He is not interested by the reward and his lifestyle allows us to believe this.

We are trying to be more patient, but it is difficult. We can't accept that this person may not be saying the truth. Our decission is taken, we will go to New Delhi in the middle of next week after visiting Amma's ashram at Amritapuri. We want Amma to know about Jean-Baptiste disparition.

We really hope we will be able to give good news soon.

Marie-Claire

More news on the petition

2009-01-17T00:06:00.000-08:00

On Monday 12th of January 2009, Mr Jacquemin (mayor of Villers) and Féron (deputy of Meurthe et Moselle) met the Indian Embassador's right hand in Paris, to give all the petitions written and from the Internet.

Also, a file concerning Jean-Baptiste's disparition will be given to the French President (Mr Sarkozy) by Nadine Morano, (Deputy of Meurthe et Moselle).

The family of Jean-Baptiste is very thankfull to the help given by so many people around.

The petition is still available to sign online: http://www.petitiononline.com/ajb51207/petition.html

Jean-Baptiste's parents are still on their way to Kerala. They are still getting informations from people that an European cyclist went this way. Could it be Jean-Baptiste?

TIRUVANAMALAY

2009-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

The large spiritual place of which we had been informed with conviction on a few occasions by potential witnesses was our greatest hope. Two testimonies informed that Jean Baptiste was there or stayed there.
We have spent one week in this place trying to get to know its spirituality in order to better understand what could have attracted Jean Baptiste: exploration of the sage Ramana, the Arunachala mountain hermit, walking around the holy mountain Arunachala (14 km), together with all the pilgrims, and there were many of them at the time of celebrations around the full moon.
We have been going to the temple during the prayers two times a day, with the hope to meet Jean-Baptiste, The temple attended non only by the Indians, but also by many Europeans, not lost – as we had been told, but in the search of the direction and spirituality.

Many of the Europeans have helped us in distribution of the “missing person” posters and in understanding the place.
The last day, while climbing the mountain until the place where Ramana had lived, several monks have told us: “he came here, but long ago. Probably around march. He wasn’t talkative, we didn’t talk”.
All of this can appear to be convincing: February in Varkala, beginning of March in Pondichery, later in March in Tiruvannamalai situated 100 km from Pondy. But any proof in all of this?
None….
It could be just someone who looks like JB.

Yesterday again, this young girl from « coffee.com » in Pondy, who told us « yes, it’s Jean-Baptiste, I have met him, he used to take an espresso every day, but now I don’t know where he is». I have to say that it’s an account that puzzled me the most….
With her assurance, as if it was evidence….
One more time no luck, registers have been only kept since 1 August 2008, following a series of terrorist acts.
We haven’t really made any progress.
Even if it is Jean-Baptiste, where is he now? What does he live off? Why doesn’t he live like before?

Sunday 4 January 2009 : ONE YEAR !

2009-01-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

It’s been one year now that the concern took hold of us and hasn’t let go since then.

We have been waiting for any news from Jean-Baptiste, especially for festive periods, and these news have never come. During the first days of January 2009 the certainty that something bad had happened to JB worried us a lot. We have warned the authorities. And we were right.

It‘s been one year since the questions, assumptions, hope has always been followed by disappointment. It doesn’t leave us undisturbed.

We have progressed very little, not to say - not at all, in spite of two travels to India.

The first to BOMBAY, in May 2008, has revealed nothing of what has happened to JB. His name hasn’t been found anywhere. Where did he sleep the night of the 4^th of December? Nobody has seen him. We could have doubted that he actually arrived in Bombay, if not the two cash withdrawals the 5^th December 2008 that required typing the PIN code. And his immigration form, the only document produced by the Indian police.

Since our first travel to India we wanted to leave the Indian authorities the time to give authorisation for French police to come to India in order to investigate the case with Indian police. We have been waiting for the agreement of the Indian minister of the interior to execute the rogatory commitee of inquiry. Unfortunately nothing appears to progress.

The aim of the travel was to search for Jean-Baptiste alive, who would not really be himself to live without money and be in an irregular situation, his visa being expired since 4^th March 2008.

We didn’t choose our route at random. It has been set for us for the months passing, after several accounts for which we have no doubt of a good faith of the witnesses:

- first of all in GOA, a beggar of European origins had been reported by a witness who believed to recognise JB from the website. After the inquiry it turned out it was a Russian who is being kept in a mental hospital at the since then. But we never were allowed to see his picture.

- following « faits divers le mag » broadcast of May 2008, a french-indian couple was struck by the resemblance of Jean-Baptiste’s picture shown on screen with an individual who intrigued them on three or four occasions on the VARKALA beach, Kerala. He had been on a European bike the last time they had seen him. It was probably in February.

- finally in June, an e-mail from a traveller reports the presence of Jean-Baptiste, or someone alike, at the « Raj Lodge » hostel, Rangapouillé street, PONDICHERY on the 4th of March 2008. The name of the traveller appears on the hostel register, but unfortunately not the name of JB. In the general opinion it doesn’t exclude completely the presence of JB in this hostel. Particularly since in the hostel it was also the bicycle that intrigued the traveller.

We hoped that these leads would allow us to rule out the criminal theory in Bombay and spare us searching this city again.

As we decided to start our awareness action with the last of the leads, that is Pondichery, we are here for another few days. We also knew JB had 2 addresses in Pondichery.

Staying in a region where people speak French and the roads have still names seemed to us to be more simple and less disorientating. Our poor knowledge of English has prevented us from taking action for a long time. We were able to print one thousand self-adhesive tracts and one thousand flyers coated with plastic, in English and Tamul, hundred twenty T-shirts, red and white, in all the sizes, with a picture of JB, hoping not to let the information about his disappearance die off. It’s just on the Christmas Eve that we have been in possession of all those materials.

The 5th of December 2008 we were able to carry out a press conference in order to draw attention. And in fact, few days after we received a phone call from the consulate: a journalist had been locked up in a church with a troubled European. Perhaps Jean-Baptiste? Hope, suspense, disappointment. There was a bright side – press conference was bringing the results. People knew that JB had gone missing. It wasn’t the case a few days before.

There is definitely a media coverage job to do, but it’s a huge job. Why the authorities don’t take care of this, for better effectiveness? People reported after learning from the media about disappearance. They couldn’t then report at the moment when they saw him.

In fact, is he really being searched for? No! Only by ourselves. His disappearance doesn’t affect anyone unfortunately.

Our long stay in Pondichery wasn’t useless. It helped us familiarize ourselves with India, the country that took away our son and which seemed to us so frightening and hostile. It allowed us to make friends, Indian as well as French, approach the social activities in cities, sponsor a little girl, discover Ashrams, Hindu and Christians and the kindness of the Indian population.

We have questioned lots of people, shown over and again the missing person poster, experienced hope and disappointment; because we were being told sever times that JB came to Pondichery. We don’t have any piece of evidence of it.

One year after, the same questions from the beginning are still on our heads.

Birthday of Jean-Baptiste Talleu

2008-12-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

On the 11th of December, Jean-Baptiste is know 27years old. Let us think about him on this particular time. It has now been more than a year he's gone missing. His parents, still in Pondicherry, are doing anything in their power to find him.

NICOLETTA godmother of the AJB

2008-12-13T01:36:00.000-08:00

Jean-Philippe GURECKI, mayor of Villers, confirmed Nicoletta (famous french singer) accepts to be the godmother of the AJB(Association "Alert disapearance of Jean-Baptiste Talleu)
In her current tour, Nicoletta will stop by Nancy, which gave Jean-Philippe Gurecki the idea to
associate her to our actions towards finding Jean-Baptiste.
Nicoletta is very happy to be able to take part.
She's going to do whatever possible to help us, among other things, sending a mail to the Indian embassador.
She intends to talk about the disapearance of JB after her concerts.

Thanks to Villers's mayor, and Nicoletta now, we are starting to be known to very important people...
Thanks again for each one of these precious involvements.

Follow-up of the Petition - Indian Embassy

2008-12-13T01:20:00.000-08:00

Sophie Sebirot-Nossoff, Villers-les-Nancy's deputy mayor tells us, concerning the handing over of the petition to the Indian embassador in Paris:
"I called the Indian embassy to take an appointement with the embassador to give him the petition.
Unfortunately there are no way we can meet him before the 12th January at 11.30am.
Pascal Jacquemin, mayor of Villers, agrees to accompany the representatives of the association to Paris on the 12th of January.

We are also trying to contact a Meurthe-et-Moselle deputy (member of parliament) to go there with them.

Thanks to the mayor of Villers and all his team who are working very hard to help the family of Jean-Baptiste.
You can still sign, and make others sign the petition until begining of January.

Thanks everybody for their support.

Click here to access the petition and sign online:
version you can print and sign or online version

Press Conference invitation

2008-12-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE
A PONDICHERY ET CHENNAI
___________________

Pondicherry 4th December 2008

PRESS NOTE

The parents of Mr Jean-Baptiste Talleu, desire meeting the press to talk about their son who was travelling through India in a bicycle and went missing on the 5th of December 2007.

He has since been noticed in Varkala, (Kerala) and in Pondicherry.

A press conference has been organised at the Press Club of Pondicherry at 11.00 a.m on Friday the 5th of December. They will provide detailed information and materials such as photos of the missing son to the press on this occasion.

Therefore the reporters of the press and visual media are requested to be present on the occasion.

Attacks in India

2008-11-30T02:16:00.000-08:00

Many of you are worried to know Pierre and Marie-Claire Talleu in India, considering the serious attacks in Mumbai.

We dit not hear from them, but they are very far from Mumbai and these events.

As soon as we can, we will reassure you completely.

Thank you very much for your worries and signs of friendship you gave.

Warmly,

Elisabeth de Ruffray.

Treasurer of the association "AJB"

Edit: We finally got in touch with Marie-Claire and Pierre, they are fine, they did not even hear from the events in Mumbai. The Monsoon is very strong and does not allow them to do much but they are doing well. They should be staying in Pondichery until the end of December.

The research program established while visiting the consul

2008-11-30T02:05:00.000-08:00

On our meeting with the Consul, we established our program of research:

-English classes at the Alliance francaise,

-Contact with the police,

-help for media coverage,

-posters,

-T-shirts with the head of Jean-Baptiste (idea of the press attaché)

-local TV and newspapers,

-press conference as soon as our english will be better.

Also to her (the Consul): a great thank you for the precious help, which allowed us not to scatter our actions, and thus saving us a lot of time.

The french TV News report: presented by Marie-Claire through her journal

2008-11-30T01:28:00.000-08:00

(See the post from 20th November : "Parents of Jean-Baptiste in Pondichery)

Lise and Julie, two journalists from TF1 (french TV channel), arrived from Delhi the day before our arrival to cover for 2 days our arrival in India.

Friday 14th of November

They start by interviewing Sister Therese.

They then find us a tanslator, after our misfortune at the Alliance Francaise.

They follow us to the Radj Lodge inn, where a witness saw a cyclist resembling Jean-Baptiste. Unfortunately, checking the registers (already done by the consulate) does not lead anywhere: no sign of JB's name.

The innkeeper does not remember any cyclist.

We all go (taxi driver, translator, journalists, and us) have lunch in front of the see to rest and recover from the stress.

Saturday 15th of November
We meet, the morning after, to put up posters. The rickshaw drivers spontaneously ask to put posters on their rickshaws. Their kindness is very heart-warming.

10am: meeting with the consul, who accepted to meet us, even though it was saturday. We evaluate what could be done to help us.

Around 11am, last shot, on the beach, feeling very much down...

We leave the two journalists at the beach coffee shop, they tell us, before leaving about our luck to have such faith, which helps us very much to go through this ordeal. They go back to New Delhi with the first plane. We thank them with all our hearts: their help and the impulse they gave us were very substancial. They were also very nice to us.

http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/jt/0,,4160544,00-disparu-il-y-a-un-an-en-inde-et-toujours-introuvable-.html

Sister Therese

2008-11-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

Sœur Thérèse fait partie de la Congrégation des Sœurs de St-Joseph de Cluny.
The Cluny Embroidery Center, give work to about forty indian woman with fair wages. The embroidery, of good quality, is famous.

She also welcomes, occasionally, old priests, tired or sick, children, disabled people... and ourselves, we are very welcome in this haven of peace, close to the sea side, the french Alliance and Consulate.

Back from a walk, Sister Therese told us it's been many years she doesn't have time, sunday evenings, to stroll alongside the sea. Today for example, she went to visit one of her protégé at the hospital, such a devotion! She is lively and petite, always on the go. She made me think, from the second I saw her, to Sister Emmanuelle

A l’occasion d’un retour de promenade, Sœur Thérèse nous dit qu’elle n’a plus le temps, depuis des années, d’aller, le dimanche soir, flâner le long de la mer. Aujourd’hui par exemple, elle est allée visiter une de ses malades hospitalisée… Le dévouement ! Elle est vive et menue, toujours active. Elle me fait penser, depuis la seconde où je l’ai vue, à sœur Emmanuelle. (A famous french sister)
(extracted from Marie-Claire's journal)

12 hours on the plane

2008-11-30T01:04:00.000-08:00

Here are the first news sent by Marie-Claire herself :

12hours on the plane - Thursday 13th of November - Friday 14th of November
11 h : plane takes of from the french airport "Charles de Gaule".
19h30 - 20h30 : stop over at BAHREIN. We find the time to change 20€ at the airport before meeting Vincent Billot and Jerome, from "Point Coeur" at 5am.

Pierre barely sleeps through the trip.
23pm (Paris time) / 3.30am local time : arrival at CHENNAIS.

Finally, after 2 and half hours of travel by car, we arrive at PONDICHERY, at sister Therese's place, who offers us a breakfast as a warm welcome, there is french baguette, which seems to very much please Vincent Billot.

It is here we will be staying, in a cute colonial house the congregation of the Sisters of St-Joseph of Cluny inherited 150years ago. It now belongs to Sister Therese. We have a very large a beautiful room.

Express your solidarity with Jean-Baptiste's familly

2008-11-30T00:55:00.000-08:00

You can find the petition to sign (version you can print and sign or online version), you can also subscribe to the Facebook group: "soutien a la famille talleu"

Parents of Jean-Baptiste in Pondichery

2008-11-20T01:49:00.000-08:00

It has now been more than a week that Jean-Baptiste's parents are in India. They are staying in Pondichery in a religious community. The French TV followed them for the first few days to keep French people aware of the case

Jean-Baptiste's parents departure for India

2008-11-08T01:47:00.000-08:00

Jean-Baptiste parents will go to India Thursday the 13th of November. They will arrive in Pondichery on the morning of the 14^th and will be welcome at the airport by leaders of a community then received by the consulate authorities. The lead of Jean-Baptiste stops in MUMBAI, but following the broadcasting of his disappearance, they got two serious testimonies:

One in Pondichery, the other one in Kerala (south west India); they wish to verify these leads themselves and spread his missing posters in the areas.

For the reminder, Jean-Baptiste does not use his bank cards and does not go on the internet since he went missing in Mumbai on the 5^th of December 2007. To this day no material clue was found and the French police is still waiting for the agreement of India authorities to come investigate in joint effort.

Please continue to send and sign the petition.

Association of support AJB: Alert Disappearance of Jean-Baptiste Talleu

associationajb@gmail.com

The Villers-les-Nancy Town Hall assisting the family of Jean-Baptiste Talleu

2008-10-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Mr Pascal JACQUEMIN, mayor of Villers-les-Nancy, having received the parents of Jean-Baptiste on the 19th of September 2008, immediately alerted the elected officials of county "Meurthe et Moselle", who then took the Talleu's case to the highest national authorities and India representatives: the President of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy, the Prime Minister Francois Fillon, the Foreign Minister, the President of the group Friendship with India group at the National Assembly, the Ambassador of India in France and the Ambassador of France in New Delhi.

The parents want to thank in particular Mr Pascal JACQUEMIN, mayor of Villers-les-Nancy, Mr André ROSSINOT, mayor of Nancy and former Minister, Mr Michel DINET, President of the local county council, as well as the MPs of Meurthe et Moselle for conveying the fears and hopes of Jean-Baptiste’s family very well.

The Public Relations Department of the Nancy Town Hall has created and printed posters and flyers in French, English and Hindi, to help the family publicize the disappearance of their son Jean-Baptiste, in France as well as in India, where his parents will be going in November.

The solidarity of these elected representatives brings great and much-needed comfort to the family in this very difficult time.

Inquiry Status Report

2008-10-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

No sign in India of the International Letter Rogatory (formal letter sent from one country’s court to another to ask for assistance) sent last May by the presiding French judge.

Four long months of waiting… for nothing. Four month lost.

Confirmation by the French Justice Department: A new International Letter Rogatory was sent to the Indian authorities, on 12th of September, 2008 via diplomatic channels.

On the 21st of October, we learnt it had been received by the Indin authorities, and will be transferred to the Indian Home Office after translation .

The Talleu family will soon return to India to further their search for their son and they are hopeful that by this time a French police investigation team will be on the ground in India .

OMEGA TV: TV report

2008-10-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Don’t miss this beautiful TV report produced by Oméga-TV, on the France-India stall at Aubervilliers (See previous article concerning this stall):

We wish to thank this channel who generously broadcasted this report about the disappearance of Jean-Baptiste.

Solidarity: Indians of the Seine-Saint Denis region near Paris take part in the search for Jean-Baptiste

2008-10-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

LE PARISIEN – Edition subscribers Seine-Saint-Denis – Marjorie Corcier 06.10.2008, 7am :

At the Aubervilliers market place yesterday afternoon, the France-India celebration was underway and dancers were wiggling their hips to the rhythm of India pop music. Next to this scene, stalls proposed food tasting, jasmine necklaces, films and Indian music.

The France-India association, located in La Courneuve, who have organised this gathering for the last 5 years decided to take the opportunity of this celebration to alert people of the disappearance of a 26 year old French man in India.

Missing in Mumbai while cycling around the world by bicycle.

Jean-Baptiste Talleu, from Nancy, has not been heard from since the 5^th of December 2007 in Mumbai, whilst cycling round the world. Moved by the ongoing fight of his family, Farouk Amirdine, the founder of the France-India association suggested to Marie-Claire, mother of Jean-Baptiste, to hold a stall at Aubervilliers to increase public awareness. “It’s important to feel supported and I think that at our level we can also help” said Farouk.

Marie-Claire Talleu may have not recovered any clues, but she at least found here a bit of comfort. “When Farouk called me, I was very touched. Here, I could meet many Indians who told me they saw the missing person posters we put in India, it made me very happy” smiled the mother, showing a blue poster translated in English and Hindi with the picture of Jean-Baptiste. “A woman who supports India children and who goes there often suggested to me she could spread the information. Furthermore, an Indian woman also explained how she lost her daughter before finding her in a hospital. She assured me that Jean-Baptiste will reappear.” Tells the mother with hope. Through the afternoon, people intending to go to India offered to distribute posters, while a few elected representatives of Seine-Saint-Denis, from both parties, committed to support Marie-Claire in her difficult search.

On the Internet: http://missingjeanbaptistetalleu.blogspot.com

Le Parisien:

http://www.leparisien.fr/abo-seine-saint-denis/les-indiens-du-93-participent-a-la-recherche-de-jean-baptiste-06-10-2008-266355.php

Press release

2008-10-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

To the attention of the media:

Following the disappearance of Jean-Baptiste Talleu in India on the 5^th of December 2007, the examining magistrate of Nancy in charge of the case sent an international rogatory letter last May. Its execution would allow the French police to go to India to investigate, but agreement from the India authorities has not yet been received.

To show the French and India authorities the French people’s interest in this investigation, we are starting a petition, which will be sent as soon as the results appear.

We therefore wish to thank, in advance, the French media for broadcasting this petition. The police has been waiting since May to receive the green light to go to India and with your help we hope that the investigation will be able to start soon.

Even though Jean-Baptiste Talleu went missing 10 months ago, no official investigation has begun! This lack of action has been unbearable for the family, and they hope that the French authorities understand the urgency of the situation . A French citizen has disappeared in India; it is unthinkable that the French government is not trying harder to get an answer from the Indian government.

For the association ajb “Alerte Disparition de Jean-Baptiste TALLEU”:

Association President: Dr Catherine de Korwin,

Treasurer: Elisabeth Schlosser: 0623093496

Talleu family Lawyer: Mr Moser: 0675877942, who accepts to be contacted for more information about this rogatory commission.

http://missingjeanbaptistetalleu.blogspot.com

PETITION

2008-08-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

The Minstry of Justice established an International Rogatory Comission last May.
The goal of the Commission is to travel to India in order to carry out an investigation. To do it the Comission
needs to obtain the agreement of Indian authorities. The agreement has not been issued yet.
With a view to showing the interest of French authorities in this ivestigation to Indian authorities we have been advised
to launch a petition that will be submited to Indian authorities dans as soon as possible.
We would appreciate that you participate in the petition and that you invite all your friends and family.
This simple gesture will mean a lot with regards to accelerate the operation of research of Jean-Baptiste.

Click here to sign the petition online:
http://www.petitiononline.com/ajb51207/petition.html

You can also download a pdf version of the petition:
https://sites.google.com/site/associationajb/Home/petitionEn.pdf?attredirects=0

First anniversary of Jean-Baptiste's departure: new media response

2008-08-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Following the appearance of the information on the anniversary of Jean-Baptiste's departure (cf under "18 juillet 2008") (cf link to this "Missing Person Poster") on the bike trip around the world two media contacted Talleu family and continued to broadcast the information sur les ondes radiophoniques et dans la Presse.
A TV broadcast is being prepared.

- Bleue Sud Lorraine radio: Saturday, 19 July, a journalist carried out an interview with Marie-Claire Talleu, the mother of Jean-Baptiste, and Elisabeth Schlosser de Ruffray, treasurer of the AJB association (cf link). He mentioned the up to date investigation progress that followed complaint against X for abduction lodged by the parents of Jean-Baptiste. He presented the AJB association set up recently (JO du 31/05/08) (cf link).
This interview was broadcasted on the Radio Bleue Sud Lorraine, as well as on France Info on Monday, 21 July.
- Christian family: thanks to the France Info's broadcast, a listener contacted a journalist of this newspaper. The journalist contacted the Talleu family. An article was published in it, in the saturday 2nd of august edition.

18th of July: First anniversary of Jean-Baptiste's departure from France

2008-07-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

One year ago, on the 18th of July 2007, enthusiastically, Jean-Baptiste was mounting his bicycle for a trip around the world he'd been dreaming for 2 years.
After giving regular update on his trip which he was finding physically easy and packed with discoveries, the silence was established from the 5th of December 2008.
This Silence is worrying his family and his friends.
No sign of life, not any leads of of Jean-Baptiste, nowhere.

"We are afraid that everybody would forget, that years would come by and that we would stay alone with our pain and our incertitude.
Waiting is unbearable. The French police has to go there, the judge sent an International Rogatory Commission, but the Indian authorities are yet to give their go ahead."
Are saying his parents on this anniversary date.

Thank you for the attention you'll put on this appeal.
It is up to everyone to continue this chain of hope... thanks to Internet and your address books.

Dr Catherine de Korwin,
President of the association AJB.

Media related Campains

2008-07-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Many media contacts allowed us to make Jean-Baptiste's disappearance well known and to increase public awareness:

WRITTEN PRESS: (in France)

- Le Républicain Lorrain 12.3.08 : Routard nancéien disparu en Inde : une inquiétante disparition
- L’Est Républicain 12.3.08 : Un Lorrain porté disparu en Inde
- Le Figaro 12.3.08 : Un cyclotouriste français porté disparu à BOMBAY
- Aujourd’hui en France 14.3.08 : La trace du cyclotouriste français se perd en Inde
- France dimanche 28.3.08 : Jean Baptiste disparu à vélo
- L’Est Républicain 29.4.08 : Disparition en Inde : un juge d’instruction nommé à Nancy
- Nice Matin : 31.5.08 : Parti de La Colle, disparu en Inde
- Nouvelobs.com 23/06/08 : Nancy : audition des parents du jeune français disparu en Inde.

NEWSCASTS :

- 11th may : France 2 : 20h15
- 23rd y : France 3 : 19h
- May : La six : le 6’

Emission TV :

24 mai France 2 : FAITS DIVERS : le Mag. (émission de 10 mn).

Emissions RADIO:

- RTL 11.3.08
- SUD RADIO 14.3.08

Numbers of articles in the Indian press:

Mumbai mirror, The Times of India, DNA Mumbai, Star news, etc…

Creation of the association "Alerte Disparition de Jean-Baptiste Talleu" (AJB)

2008-07-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

The association AJB was created by friends of Jean-Baptiste to support his family and help find him.

Published in the JO, the 31st of may 2008, with the n°1234.

TITLE :

ALERTE DISPARITION DE JEAN BAPTISTE TALLEU, dite A.J.B.

PURPOSES:

-Collect funds to help the family in the research of Jean Baptiste TALLEU;
-Increase public, officials, and administration's awareness of the case, to help find Jean Baptiste TALLEU;
-Increase awareness of the risks taken when travelling in foreign countries;
-Gather other families having a relative missing in India;

FIRST ACTIONS :

Gather funds for:
-Financing the first wave of information;
-Financing the trip of Marie-Claire, his mother, and Vincent, his brother, and Patricia, his brother's partner. This trip, very fruitful, was made possible from 1st may to 12th may.

ACTION IN JULY :

-Information campaign around the first anniversary of Jean-Baptiste's departure, on the 18th of july 2007.
-Sensitize all the Christians of France.

PROJECTS :

-After the go-ahead of the Indian authorities, departure of a French team of policemen in Mumbai, after the sending in India of the International Rogatory Commission by the judge on the 16th may 2008. Still no news at the moment.
-Finance a long term trip for Marie-Claire in India. Her departure is planned in september or Ocotber; everything depending on the results of the Internation Rogatory Commission.
-Support the media-related campaigns in France as well as in India for Jean-Baptiste not to fall into oblivion.

News

2008-05-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

From 2nd to 13th of may, the family of Jean-Baptiste met the local authorities in Mumbai and held a press conference.
They also announced a reward of 2 Lakhs for any information leading to the finding of Jean-Baptiste Talleu.
10 000 Posters were printed. See Missing posters, flyers

The posting and distribution of these posters is in progress, but we still need help to spread the posters throughout the all of India.

On the 23rd of may, hearing with the juge in charge of the case: sum up of the trop in India.
An Internation rogatory commission was delivered on the 16th of May.

We are waiting for the agreement of the Indian authorities to send a brigade.

Press conference in Mumbai

2008-05-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

Jean-Baptiste Talleu's Family is giving a press conference in Mumbai on Friday 09th of May at 11.30am.
They will announce that a Reward of 2 Lakhs is offered for information leading to the finding of Jean-Baptiste Talleu.
They will also appeal to all the people of India to help them in the finding of Jean-Baptiste.

The press conference will be held in:
Alliance Francaise (French Alliance)
Theosophy Hall
40 New Marine Lines
Mumbai
at 11.30 in the morning of the 09th of May.

To contact Jean-Baptiste's mother (Marie-Claire) or his brother (Vincent), call this number:

9819875945 from Mumbai
09819875945 from anywhere in India
009109819875945 from anywhere in the world

Jean-Baptiste's family in Mumbai

2008-05-03T19:39:00.001-07:00

Jean-Baptiste's mother, his brother with his fiancée arrived in Mumbai the 2nd of may.
A friend was waiting for them at the airport to take them to their hotel, with a stop at the airport police station where the complaint was put in march.
The day after they will meet the concerned autorities (missing person bureau, cybercell crime branch) and the 2 people they mandated in march.
They discover the faces of all these friends they never met before, and how much their help has been precious.

Jean-Baptiste in Mapusa?

2008-04-06T16:37:00.001-07:00

April 9:

Wrong lead.
The young man is a 29yrs old Russian who is now in psychiatric hospital.

April 6:

It was reported that Jean-Baptiste might have been seen at Mapusa (Goa) also spelled Mapuca, Mhapsa ou Mapsa on the 10th of february.

Progression of the research

2008-03-16T14:20:00.001-07:00

9 April:

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=19.143759&lon=72.855653&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25443057@N02/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzynRBOO9fo

March 30:

The last place we know Jean-Baptiste has been:

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=19.143759&lon=72.855653&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

His family thinks he could have tried to go camping in the area, as Jean-Baptiste has a tent and likes to sleep out rather than paying a hotel.

Also this is not far from the Hindi film studios, Jean-Baptiste could have wanted to visit the area:

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=19.161911&lon=72.885929&z=17&l=0&m=a&v=2

March 19:

The Indian Police and the Consulate are doing a lot, 2 people in the consulate a spending all their time on the case, and the Indian police is doing a lot too.

Many people are helping us over there. Our hopes are high.

In France also the justice is in contact with us and it might become very positive.

March 18:

New informations regarding JB's bank withdrawals on the 5th of December.

- 1st withdrawal at 09H39 local time.
(Andheri Kurla Rd)
- 2nd withdrawal at 18H02 local time.
(ATM Name SRPF GoregaonAddress State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Goregaon (E), Mumbai 400 065Mumbai)
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=19.143759&lon=72.855653&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

This indicates he was heading North, instead of South as we thought.

March 14:

The immigration services confirmed that JB was in the plane and arrived to Mumbai.
He wrote on the "contacts in India": Mumbai, New Dehli, Calcutta

Missing: Jean-Baptiste Talleu

2008-03-12T04:05:00.006-07:00

Missing French cyclist (Mumbai to South India?):

Jean-Baptiste Talleu

Young French cyclist - 26 years old, 5ft10, 1m80, disappeared in India since 5th of December 2007, when arriving to Mumbai.

If you have information, if you have seen him, please contact:
mctalleu@gmail.com (his mother) +336 22078234 +333 83 406584
or +447981959212 (his brother in London)
or +91 (22)22621549 (Missing Person Bureau, Mumbai)

Here are two photos of Jean-Baptiste Talleu,
a French cycling from France to Asia.

He was regularly giving news to his parents, and they
can record his banking activity through the internet.

Since the 5th of December he didn't give any news.
He took a flight from Dubai to Mumbai (Bombay) the
4th December and effectively arrived as he withdrew
money from the bank this day in Mumbai. But since
then, nothing, no news, no mail, no withdrawal. We
worry a lot.

He intended to cycle towards the south of India, but
something might have happen to him and he could have
never left Bombay, the last place we presume he's
been.
He travels with a Lonely Planet guide, which means he
probably goes through typical areas mentioned in the
guide.

He is 26 years old, measures 5ft10, 1,80m, long dark brown
curly hair, always tied, thin. Always wears beige,
brown, dark blue or black clothes, never colourful.

If you happen to live in the area, or go through
there while you travel, please look around and
display a poster with his pictures.
Here are the areas it is most likely to be helpful
displaying his missing poster:

Around Mumbai airport

Andheri Kurla Road (The last place we assume he was, to withdraw money)

Any area in Mumbai where tourists usually go for cheap hotel (Colaba)

Any touristic area where it is most likely travellers go by (Goa, Gokarna, Hampi, Kochi, Ooty, Mysore, Allepey, Munnar, Varkala)

Gateway of India, where tourists usually take a boat to cross the peninsula

If you go in any hotel or Guesthouse, please show his picture and ask

The region of Pune, in the ashrams where he could have ended up

The word document printable poster:

Missing person: JB Talleu

Or Pdf file:

Missing person: JB Talleu
Personne disparue: JB Talleu

Putting up posters and passing his picture around
will be very helpful; we are counting a lot on this.
Thank you very much.

Details about Jean-Baptiste's trip

2008-03-12T04:05:00.005-07:00

Jean-Baptiste Talleu, 26 yrs old, a fervent roman catholic living with his parents Pierre Talleu and Marie-Claire Talleu.

Family of 7 children from 19 to 34 yrs old. He's 4th or 5th with his twin sister, who lives in London.

Jean-Baptiste was working as a web designer but didn't want to spend his life in front of a computer and wanted to do something else with his life, so he left his job, bought a touring bike and decided to travel around the world with it, after a few little trips to Germany, Corsica, Holland, etc to train his cycling. In the beginning of July he joined the rest of the family for a week holiday in the south of France. At the end of these holiday, (18th of July 2007) he started his trip, going through these countries:

Italy, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Iran.

He couldn't get his visa for Pakistan. 25th of November he took a boat from Bandar Langeh, south of Iran, to Dubai. On the 2nd of December, from Dubai, he talked for a long time to his mother on the MSN messenger. She asked him as a joke if he was coming home for Christmas, and he replied: "certainly not, my trip is getting more and more interesting!"
She asked him where he wanted to go in India, but he replied he will see when he gets there. She gave him addresses of religious community and he accepts, happy. She gave him 2 addresses in Pondichery, but we checked he never got there.
His mother then bought for him a plane ticket from Dubai to Mumbai.

Tuesday 4th December :[Dubai (DXB) 17:00 - Mumbai (BOM) 21;15 Terminal 2]
Air India, flight 716

On the 5th of December, she supposed he got to Mumbai because she saw he withdrew 1000INR and 10000INR. (She can access his bank account on the internet). In Andheri Kurla Road, next to the airport.

But she was surprised he didn't get back to her as he promised, when he got to Mumbai.
Days pass, he doesn't read the e-birthday card she sent him (11th December) and he doesn't give any news for Christmas, no activity in his bank account, we supposed he took 10000 to get out of the city and couldn't find internet then.

-12th of January his mother alerts the foreign ministry.

-9th February her husband puts a file for research in interest of families.

-3rd of March they file a complaint against X to the district attorney of Nancy.

-7th of March, his India visa expires. and our friend in India files a complaint to the police.

-10th of March, his parents write to the Indian embassy in France to ask them to support their complaint in Mumbai.

-14th of March, his parents sent a letter to Nicolas Sarkosy.

-16th of April, a Juge is assigned to the case, it is Mr Eric Virbel

-28th of April, JeanBaptiste's parents are meeting the juge Virbel

-02th of May, 3 family members arrive in Mumbai

There is no doubt today that something happened to him. We have no idea where he is. He could be anywhere in India, but he could still be in Mumbai.

Pictures of Jean-Baptiste

2008-03-12T04:05:00.003-07:00

More pictures of Jean-Baptiste Talleu

2008-03-12T04:05:00.001-07:00