West Bengal Radio Club, Barpeta Police help mentally challenged woman find home

GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - At a time when identity of people seems to be the biggest issue in the State, a mentally unstable woman of Barpeta, lost in West Bengal with little clue about her identity, has been reunited with her family due to the efforts of West Bengal Radio Club and Barpeta Police.

Moziran Khatun (24), who went missing from her Kayakuchi Pathar home in Barpeta district three years ago, reached her home today with her newborn child.

A mentally disturbed divorcee, Moziran was discovered by a tea stall owner of Sirakol near Diamond Harbour in West Bengal, who subsequently informed the police and the woman was taken to Diamond Harbour Super Speciality Hospital along with her newborn child on July 21.

�The woman had given birth to a baby girl on July 21, but the hospital authorities were finding it difficult to understand her language as she was unable to utter anything, but a few words like Barpeta and Howly. As she is mentally challenged, it was more difficult to ascertain her identity,� said Ambarish Nag Biswas, secretary of West Bengal Radio Club, an amateur club that has helped several missing people in reuniting with their families through its members in different parts of the country.

Being contacted by the hospital authorities, the club appointed one of its members, who could understand Assamese language to talk to the woman.

�Subsequently, after counselling and efforts of the hospital authorities and the radio club, Barpeta Police in Assam was contacted, who helped us locate the address of the woman,� he added.

Violet Barua, Superintendent of Police, Barpeta, who took initiative to locate the family of the missing woman, told The Assam Tribune that the woman was identified by her mother and the family was sent to West Bengal where they received the victim after proper verification.

Further counseling of the woman would be done with the help of NGOs and an enquiry would also be conducted on how she went missing.

�I appreciate the local radio club that took the initiative in following up the matter and contacting the police to reunite the family. We would also send an appreciation letter to the NGO for their efforts,� she added.

�I hope the NGO and other stakeholders would come up with support and counselling for the victim. The society definitely has a greater role to play in accepting such people and help them lead a normal life,� she mentioned.