Six years back Mohammad Hasib, a resident of Bihar thought his mother Zarina Kathur who had mental imbalance was lost permanently. After filing a missing complaint, he waited for her. But after some months, he lost hopes of seeing his mother again as police could not trace her.
It was on August 17, 2016 when Bunder North police in Mangaluru found Zarina wandering aimlessly with no clear details about who she was. The efforts of the police to find her identity also went in vain. Hence, they decided to keep Zarina at a safe place and she was brought straight to White Doves – a shelter home caring and sheltering the abused, destitute and mentally challenged by providing selfless support. At the shelter, she was medically treated.
Three months back Zarina started crying everyday and urging Corrine Rasquinha, NGO’s chief, to drop her to sister-in-law’s house which she thought was close by. She was clear about her home town Katihar in Bihar.
It was only on Friday, April 5 that the manager of the NGO, Jerald Fernandes, got some details from Zarina. She mentioned about a Maulavi named Abdul of Gangapur Madarasa. Jerald contacted superintendent of police of Katihar district sharing Zarine’s details. The SP referred him to Anjaj Aman, sub-inspector of Balrampur station.
Bihar police, acting quickly, contacted the maulavi who thankfully knew about the family and got in touch with her son.
The NGO received a call from one of the 5 sons of Zarina sending the copy of the Aadhaar card to confirm Zarina’s identity convincing the NGO staff that this was the same woman who was missing from Bihar for the last 6 years.
On Sunday April 7, it was an emotional morning as the mother and son were re-united. There were tears of joy and Zarina was extremely grateful to Corrine and Jerald for reuniting her with her family. She thanked them profusely for sheltering her and promised that she would never go missing again.
“For the first time I am traveling to South India. Only Mangaluru saved her. I thank White Doves, Mangaluru police and entire community of Mangaluru for taking care of my mother and showering love on her,” said Zarina’s son.
