Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Jul 3: Five minor boys who had run away from their homes were rescued at Indrali railway station on Thursday, thanks to the timely intervention, alertness, and swift action of a Railway Ticket Examiner (TTE) and personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

On July 1, TTE Sabita Shetty, while conducting ticket checks aboard the Matsyagandha Express travelling on the Mangaluru–Mumbai route between Barkur and Udupi, noticed five minor boys travelling without tickets. Finding their behaviour suspicious, she immediately alerted the Udupi RPF control room.

As the train approached Indrali railway station, RPF personnel Muralidharan boarded the general coach and safely rescued the five boys before bringing them to the RPF station. During counselling, it emerged that the children had run away from home due to family-related issues.

After providing the boys with the necessary refreshments and care, they were handed over to the Child Help Centre in Udupi. There, they underwent counselling, efforts were made to reunite them with their families, and the required legal procedures were completed.

The boys, who are residents of RT Nagar in Bengaluru, were later rehabilitated at the Doddanagudde Boys' Home, and their parents were informed. On Thursday, the parents appeared before the Child Welfare Committee, submitted the required documents, and took custody of their children, sources said.