13-yr-old TVM girl flies solo to Delhi after fight with parents, cops bring her back

Thiruvananthapuram: A 13-year-old daughter of a migrant couple from Bengal, who sells pani puri in Thiruvananthapuram, took a flight to Delhi, all by herself, reportedly following an argument with her parents. The prompt intervention of the Vizhinjam police brought her back. The cops, however, couldn't help but wonder over the planning that went into her adventure.

A Class 9 student from Mukkola, near Vizhinjam, she booked the ticket online at a computer centre nearby. She had obtained ₹30,000 from her parents' savings and then set out for West Bengal, only to end the trip midway. The police said the teen, who belongs to a family originally from Bagdogra in West Bengal, left home after an argument.

Her parents earn a living in Thiruvananthapuram by running a pani puri stall and selling lottery tickets. The family kept aside some savings, from which the girl took some money for the flight tickets.

According to investigators, she arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Thursday morning. Vizhinjam CI Prakash said the girl’s decision to travel was deliberate and not an impulsive act. “Her elder sister was married off to West Bengal, and she has other relatives there. It seems she intended to go to her relative's house in West Bengal,” Vizhinjam SI Dinesh said. He added that the girl appeared confident navigating the process on her own, as she had previously travelled by air several times with her family.

She left her rented house around 7 am on Thursday, saying she was going to school. The parents later learnt that she didn't reach the school, nor did she return home. The family then filed a complaint with the police. A missing complaint was registered, and a search operation was immediately launched.

An autorickshaw driver soon approached the police with vital information, confirming that he had dropped the girl off at the airport. The officials quickly alerted authorities in Delhi while tracing the booking details of her journey.

The girl’s flight had a layover at Delhi before its final destination. Acting swiftly, the Kerala Police team coordinated with the Delhi counterparts and located the girl at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

She was placed under their care until the team arrived. The officers then accompanied her back to Thiruvananthapuram by Friday morning. Upon her return, the teenager was produced before the Child Welfare Committee in accordance with procedure.