Deaf-mute Geeta, stuck in Pakistan for 13 years, arrives in Delhi

Deaf-mute Geeta, stuck in Pakistan for 13 years, arrives in Delhi

New Delhi: Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian woman who had been stranded in Pakistan for over a decade, arrived in New Delhi on Monday accompanied by five members of Edhi Foundation, a social welfare organisation, who had been generously looking after her since 2003.

Geeta – whose heartrending story bears an uncanny resemblance to that of a character named 'Munni' in the Bollywood blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan – was unable to return home, for she could not remember or explain where she was actually from.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the members of Edhi Foundation will be treated as state guests.

"On October 26, 2015, we will be bringing Geeta back to India. Together with Geeta, we have invited five officials of the Edhi Foundation," Swarup had said on Friday.

He said that Geeta has already identified one family as possibly being that of her parents.

"We will be doing DNA testing to establish conclusive proof. If the DNA tests match, Geeta will be handed over to that family. If not, we have identified suitable institutions where she will be looked after," Swarup said.

He said on the institutions identified are in Delhi and Indore.

Bilkis Edhi's grandson Fahad said, "She will be accompanied by me, my father Faisal Edhi, my mother and my grandmother Bilqees Edhi…We are going with her because she recognised the family in the photograph sent to us by the Indian High Commission as her family. But DNA tests will confirm this."

The Express Tribune reported, Geeta took with her all the gifts she received in the past few years – including a gold-jewellery set from Bilquis Edhi, a silver-jewellery set from Faisal Edhi on Raksha Bandhan and a gold chain with a pendant that bears her name.

"We have also packed some dresses for her to wear on Diwali next month," said Saba Edhi.

In a bid to express her gratitude to the people of Pakistan, Geeta used the sign language to say she felt blessed to be in that country, as translated by her instructor Ishrat Shaheen.

"She will never forget how much love and respect Pakistan has given her."

Geeta also promissed to keep in touch with her instructor and friends via internet video chat.

Geeta, now in her early 20s, was around 11 years old when she inadvertently crossed the border to Pakistan.

In 2003, Geeta — then 11 years old — was spotted by the Pakistan Rangers in Lahore, and handed over to the Edhi Foundation. Bilquis Edhi, who runs the Edhi Foundation, has named her Geeta.

(With inputs from IANS)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
NewsGram
www.newsgram.com