Mumbai police brings joy to runaway boy with heartening gesture

Asalpha resident Faisal (name changed), upset over his family being unable to celebrate his birthday, ran away from home on Wednesday evening. The family approached Ghatkopar police station after a futile overnight search operation for him. The family had rushed to the Ghatkopar police station on October 5 morning saying their 13-year-old son had been missing since 4 pm on Wednesday. The kin approached police after a futile overnight search for him.

The Ghatkopar police registered a case under Section 363 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code. Crime branch unit 7 was also alerted and thus began a parallel probe into the case.

"After registration of FIR, we also started the probe and with the help of intelligence, we managed to trace him in Ghatkopar area. We brought him to the crime branch unit and questioned where he was and whether he was taken away by someone or what was the reason for leaving home" said an official from Unit 7.

Upon being questioned, the boy confessed that his father was dead his mother was mentally ill and that there was no one at home with whom he could celebrate his birthday and thus left his home. The reason behind his taking off tugged at the police's heartstrings and they decided to make the day memorable for him. The police officials got him a cake to celebrate his birthday.

Inspector Rajashri Balgi, sub-Inspector Namdeo Parabalkar, constable Sneha Naik, Sheetal Dalvi, Heena Sheikh, Seema Tirodkar and Savitri Jadhav were part of the team that traced Faisal and later celebrated his birthday. The incident also made the child tear up and he thanked the police personnel.

The official added, "We were touched to know that the boy couldn't afford to celebrate his birthday and thus he ran away from home. We tried to bring some joy to his life and also told him if he faced any difficulties in his studies or felt low, the cops were always there for him."