Karnataka cops use WhatsApp to reunite lost, speech-impaired minor girl with family

The Shivamogga district police in Karnataka reunited a minor speech-impaired girl with her family two days after she lost her way. The 14-year-old girl, a resident of Channagiri village in Shivamogga district, had boarded a bus to travel to a nearby hospital on August 25 as she was unwell.

According to the police, she regularly travelled by herself to the hospital, and the journey was not unusual for her. However, on that day, she missed her intended stop and ended up travelling to Thammadihalli, which is about 30 km from the hospital.

Unable to communicate with those around her, the girl did not know how to find her way back home. Local police officers then reached the spot and took the girl to safety. She was subsequently produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and sent to a government-run children’s home.

Since the girl is a minor, the police initially did not circulate her photograph and personal details widely on WhatsApp. The matter was later taken up with senior officers. Following their directions, her photograph and details were circulated among police WhatsApp groups to establish her identity.

The effort helped the police trace the girl’s family within two days. “When her photograph was circulated on police WhatsApp groups, her brother came across it through a local police officer. He identified her as his sister, following which we verified the details and contacted the family,” the officer said.

The family had also searched for the girl at the hospital after she failed to return home. A missing person’s complaint was subsequently registered at the Channagiri police station. After the family was traced, they were asked to appear before the CWC.

Following the necessary procedures, the girl was formally reunited with her family on August 27.