Family reunites with runaway boy

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Coimbatore: It was a happy family reunion on Sunday for a 15-year-old Odisha boy, who was found in a semi-conscious state along a railway track with deep wounds on his head and bruises all over the body a week ago near Peelamedu.
As the boy, Shek Salim, could not recollect how he came down to Coimbatore, city-based NGO Eera Nenjam took pains to trace his family with support from the police.
“The boy could barely remember anything and just said he hailed from a specific area in Odisha. We then posted his pictures on Facebook and mailed his photos and the little information we gathered from him to police stations in Odisha,” said P. Mahendran of Eera Nenjam.
Fortunately, the Jaspur police confirmed that a missing complaint had been filed by the boy’s parents, who also confirmed the injured boy to be their son. Meanwhile, the boy was treated at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for the deep wounds on his head and shoulder.
“As the boy appeared very weak, the collector even accepted our request to provide an attendant to take care of him. Salim’s health condition has improved significantly and he is fine to be taken by his parents,” said Mahendran.
His father Shek Sathujin, a painter, and mother Kethaboom Beevi, were moved on seeing their son in such a sorry state on Sunday.
But they were also happy at his being saved and thanked the NGO for helping them get back their son.
“We handed over the boy only after confirming that they were his parents and they showed us some family photographs and a letter issued by the Jaspur police stating that the missing boy was theirs. Enquiries revealed that the boy had run away from home,” said Mahendran
The parents are likely to take their son back to Odisha on Monday after a meeting with officials of the district administration and CMCH authorities.