NEW DELHI, India -- Several families had come forward to claim the Deaf and mute Indian girl is their daughter. The Punjab Rangers brought her to the Edhi Foundation nearly 14 years ago, said Faisal Edhi of the social welfare group.
She was barely 11 years old when she accidentally crossed the border and landed in Pakistan. Now in her early 20s, Geeta - who is Deaf and mute - is set to return to her homeland as her family has been traced in India.
The Centre said on Thursday that Geeta will be reunited with her family.
“Geeta will be back in India soon. We have located her family. She will be handed over to the family only after the DNA test,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.
Geeta was being looked after by Edhi Foundation, a charitable organisation, in Karachi. The 23-year-old has identified her family through a photograph and they reportedly live in Bihar. Pakistani authorities said they have completed all formalities to repatriate Geeta to India.
“We have completed all formalities on our part for repatriation of Geeta. The Indian side has already been informed accordingly. We, therefore, are waiting for response from the Indian High Commission regarding the mode of her return,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said.
Geeta’s case came to light after Bollywood star Salman Khan’s film Bajrangi Bhaijaan was released earlier this year. ... Read The Full Story.
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