Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 20: A woman who went missing 12 years back from Dubri in Assam, has finally found her family. She returned to her hometown with son.

This information was given by Sunil John D'Souza, founder of 'Vishwasada Mane' orphanage, at a press conference on Saturday September 18.

D'Souza said that the woman, who was found to be loitering around Mangaluru in the year 2009 having lost her mental balance, had been rescued and brought to the orphanage. "Initially she used to go on talking too much and abused others. After we started to care for her and provided medicines, her condition improved within a month. Whenever we sought to know her name, she used to say she was Mallaka Begum/Khatoon. Although she said she was a Muslim having five children and expressed the desire to return to Dubri, she could not properly provide the address. She spoke in Bengali. We wrote over 25 letters to addresses provided by her but all of them were returned undelivered. She often turned sad and wanted to return home. A few days back, Dr Sharma and his team from KMC Hospital Manipal which visited the camp at the orphanage, made enquiries with the lady. They collected some details and contacted Dubri village. They established a connection with the elder son of the Begum. Begum spoke with family members on the phone and became very happy. On Thursday, her second son and his family members came to escort her back home," he explained.

At the sight of her second son, Tahajuddin, who came to the Ashram, Begum ran to him, hugged him and shed tears. Tahajuddin said that his mother had become mentally disturbed after the death of her husband in 2007 and went missing in 2008. Their efforts to find her went in vain, he told in a voice choked with emotions. He said his family and his entire village is grateful to the founder and staff of 'Vishwasada Mane'.

'Vishwasada Mane' vice president, Mathew Castelino, and advocate, Deevin Shetty, were present at the press conference.