Visakhapatnam, August 23, 2024 — A 13-year-old girl from Assam, who went missing from her home in Kazhakootam, Kerala, was found on a train in Visakhapatnam earlier this week. The girl, who reportedly fled due to frequent physical abuse by her mother, expressed a strong reluctance to return home and has instead requested to be sent to her grandfather’s place in Assam.
The incident came to light when members of the Malayali Samajam discovered the girl on the Tambaram Express. She was reportedly on her way to her grandparents’ home in Assam when she was located. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Visakhapatnam has since taken her into a temporary shelter.
Authorities in Kerala have dispatched a team of police officers to Visakhapatnam to bring the child back. However, during a visit by representatives from the Malayali Association, the girl made it clear that she does not wish to return to her parents due to the alleged abuse.
The case is now being handled with the involvement of the Child Welfare Committee, and the final decision on the girl’s custody is expected to be made after she is presented before a magistrate. The incident has raised concerns about child abuse and the safety of minors within their homes.