Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Runaway child reunited with family

Staff Reporter

BACK WITH FAMILY: Akbar Basha who was reunited with his family in the city on Sunday. - Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Akbar Basha, an 11-year-old boy who ran away from his home in Coimbatore a few days ago, was reunited with his family on Sunday morning.

The boy who was found loitering at the railway station here on Saturday by personnel of the RPF was handed over to the Don Bosco Home for children, here.

According to J.F. Shiju, who mans the Childline facility run by the home, Akbar, who was a rank holder in his class, ran away from home after he was scolded by his parents a few days ago. Saying that he was going to school, Akbar went to the Coimbatore railway station where he boarded a train to Kanyakumari.

Once he reached there, he begged for food. With the money he was able to get from Kanyakumari he came to Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Shiju said.

At the railway station, Akbar was noticed by the RPF personnel when an old man, apparently under the impression that the boy was a beggar, tried to take Akbar with him.

According to Mr. Shiju, the old man ran away when he saw the RPF personnel.

With the help of the city police, Childline officials contacted police officials in Coimbatore. Even as Akbar's parents - father Kalim Basha and mother Faidahu Bashu - were preparing to register a `man missing' petition at the local police station, police personnel went to their home enquiring whether their son was missing.

It was an emotional reunion for Akbar and his parents when they met at the Don Bosco Nivas, Thampanoor. "When the RPF personnel found Akbar he had Rs.60 with him. We gave him back that money when he and his parents left for home by the Chennai Mail," Mr. Shaiju added.

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