Mentally-challenged man reunited with family after 4 years

Ballari: It was mutual relief and joy that marked the reunion of 26-year-old Venkatesh with his family, from which he had been separated for four years on Wednesday. Venkatesh, who is suffering from a mental illness, had been missing since 2016. A resident of V Nagalpur in Ballari district, Venkatesh found himself, rather inexplicably, in Malda, West Bengal.
Acting in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), officials of the Ballari district administration were able to get Venkatesh back to his home and reunited with his family. Members of the NGO had found Venkatesh roaming and staying on the roads of Malda, and was rescued two weeks ago.
“We were intimated by volunteers with the NGO that they had found Venkatesh, who had reportedly injured his leg two weeks ago. When I learnt that he was from Ballari, I assured the NGO of ensuring his return home,” Ballari deputy commissioner SS Nakul told TOI.
Nakul said that, once Venkatesh was fit enough, the district administration booked him a flight to Bengaluru. “We arranged for a vehicle that would bring Venkatesh from Bengaluru to his village. His family members travelled in that vehicle to receive him in Bengaluru and returned to Ballari,” he added.
Venktesh’s elder brother Nagappa, along with Aravind N, a relative, expressed their gratitude to the officials of the district administration for helping find his estranged brother. “We had filed a ‘missing person’ complaint at the Gadenur police station. We searched for him everywhere but could not find him. The NGO volunteers called Toranagallu police station when they learnt that Venkatesh was from there,” the duo said.
Nagappa said Venkatesh had a congenital mental defect, and had probably left home when there was no one around. “He would have lost his way, and must have boarded a lorry that took him to Malda. We are very happy he is back with us now. We will never leave him alone henceforth,” Nagappa said