Abducted girl finally reunited with parents

MARGAO: In November 2017, at the age of three, she was abducted from platform no. 1 of the Margao railway station. In September 2018, she was rescued by the police from the clutches of her abductors in Bhopal. Last week, the girl, now nearly five years old, was reunited with her parents, thus capping the prolonged exercise of placing the child into the lawful custody of her parents.

Confirming the development, South Goa SP Arvind Gawas told TOI, “The parents travelled to Bhopal and visited the child protection home there, following which they were handed over custody of her by the child welfare committee (CWC), Bhopal.”

The girl had been lodged in the children’s protective home, Bhopal, since her rescue on September 9, 2018. The CWC, Bhopal, handed over the child to her parents after a detailed counseling session and in accordance with the provisions contained in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000.

The efforts of the Konkan Railway police, the CWCs of Goa and Bhopal and the child railway helpline, in ensuring a secure reunion entailed several obstacles. Though her parents were traced two weeks after her rescue, they could not produce any identity documents to claim possession of her. Moreover, they were living in penury, begging for a living. The situation raised questions about the girl’s safety.

Last week, however, the parents travelled to Bhopal on their own and managed to successfully plead their case with the CWC, Bhopal, leading to an emotional reunion with their lost child.