Almost 15 years after she accidentally crossed over to neighbouring Pakistan, Geeta, a girl with a hearing and speech impediment has finally returned to New Delhi where she was received with warmth. Dressed in a white-red salwar suit with her head covered with a dupatta, she landed from Karachi in Pakistan International flight PK 272. Geeta was reportedly 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express, by Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore Railway Station.
Adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquees Edhi, she continued to live with her in Karachi over the years. Geeta's story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', a story of a common man who unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother. Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, TCA Raghavan and wife visited her in August on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's orders to try and locate her family. Before boarding the flight from Karachi, Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her. Faisal Edhi, of the foundation said they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her. “She is not really separating from us,” he said.
Sources had earlier said that Geeta has identified her father, step-mother and siblings from a photograph sent to her by the Indian high commission in Islamabad. The family reportedly lives in Bihar. Swaraj had said that Geeta would be handed over to the family after a DNA test. The ministry had said she would return to the country as she is “India’s daughter”, irrespective of whether her family is traced or not.
Edhi declines donation announced by Modi
Pakistani social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi on Tuesday declined an offer of £100,000 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his charity. "Edhi has thanked Modi and politely declined to accept his announced financial help," the Dawn quoted Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi as saying. Modi on Monday announced the contribution to the charity after the return of Geeta to India.
