Palghar teen leaves home over alleged favouritism towards sibling, found safe by police

A 13yearold girl from Palghar district ran away from home reportedly upset over feeling that her mother favoured her sibling She was later traced by police an officer told news agency PTI on FridayThe incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Safale Police Station on Thursday The girl was in severe emotional distress and at risk of selfharm the officer saidThe minor a resident of Hanjaroli village was upset by the belief that her mother showed more affection towards her younger sister and favoured her he addedLocal police personnel with support from villagers launched a search operation to find the girlShe was eventually located near the Dranjaroli Dam area said District Superintendent of Police Yatish DeshmukhldquoOur primary concern was her safety Fortunately she was found unharmed Following her rescue she underwent professional counselling to address her negative thoughts and emotional distressrdquo he said adding that she has since been reunited with her parentsFrom Mumbai to Kanpur How social media helped trace Shamu after six monthsAn Instagram post proved invaluable in tracing a 15yearold boy from Santosh Nagar Goregaon East who had gone missing in September last year The boy who had travelled to Kanpur Uttar Pradesh was recently brought back safely by the Dindoshi policeShamu was outside with his aunt in Goregaon East before he hitched a ride with a twowheeler rider in September last yearThe minor Shyam lsquoShamursquo Gupta had lost his parents during the COVID19 pandemic and was living with his aunt in Mumbai According to police he was studying in Std VII but had started skipping school which often led to scolding at home ldquoHe used to leave with his school bag daily but we later found he wasnrsquot attending classesrdquo said his cousin Vikas GuptaPolice said Shamu wandered in Mumbai for a few days before boarding a train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Kanpur There he joined a group of traders selling utensils at fairs and began travelling with them for work in exchange for food and shelterAfter roaming around the city he caught a train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to KanpurThe breakthroughLast month a family member spotted Shamu in an Instagram reel ldquoMy sisterinlaw saw the reel a couple of weeks ago and we immediately informed the police after seeing the videordquo Gupta said Acting on the clue police traced his location to the Bhadohi Kotwali area and returned to his kin with the help of local police on March 15The family then registered a missing person complaint The boy posted a reel a month ago surprising his kinPolice teamWhen the reel came to light a team was formed under the guidance and instructions of DCP Mahesh Chimte Zone XII Senior Inspector Mahindra Shinde led the operation with PSI R Thange PSI Ajit Desai ASI Wagmare and PC Bhushan MahajanThe boy with officers of the Dindoshi police stationHomesicknessDuring questioning it was revealed that Shamursquos parents used to live in Kanpur and the utensil sellers he was staying with also resides there Since childhood Shamu used to visit their home frequently ldquoAfter his parentsrsquo demise when his aunt brought him to Mumbai he began missing his village He was unable to focus on his studies and wanted to return to Kanpurrdquo a police officer saidlsquoWersquore happy he is backrsquoldquoWe had stayed in Kanpur for nearly a month but we had no idea that Shamu was there as well If he had told us he was nearby we would have been relieved For the past few months our family has been in deep distress When my sisterinlaw tried to contact him on Instagram he never revealed his exact location saying he was in Delhi and at other times elsewhereA screenshot of the 15yearold boyrsquos Instagram account PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTHe had logged into his Instagram account from a phone belonging to the traderrsquos family he was staying with and posted the reelrdquo said Gupta After months of uncertainty the family expressed relief at his return ldquoWe are extremely happy to have him back We just want him to focus on his studies and build his futurerdquo Gupta addedThe teenager was reunited with his family on March 15 this yearWith PTI inputs