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Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Mentally ill woman found in Maharashtra's Gondia reunited with kin in Bangladesh: ‘it was about helping her find herself again'
A mentally ill woman from Bangladesh's Noakhali, who had been found wandering in a village in Maharashtra's Gondia district last year, was reunited with her family earlier this month following months-long efforts by authorities and social workers in Nagpur. The woman, who is in her mid-thirties and appeared to be mentally ill, was found by residents of Pujari Tola village in Gondia. They informed the Rawanwadi police which took her into custody on April 30, 2023, according to Shashikiran Nawkar, Assistant Police Inspector, Rawanwadi police station. She was later briefly admitted to the psychiatric ward of a local hospital before being transferred to the Regional Mental Hospital (RMH) in Nagpur. At RMH, the woman came under the care of Kunda Bidkar, a Samaj Seva Adhikshak (social service superintendent), who proved crucial in the journey back to her identity. 'In the beginning, she didn't speak at all. She would walk out of the ward or sit quietly in corners. But with continued treatment, after about four months, she began to respond in single words,' said Bidkar. A false lead, then a name The woman first identified herself as 'Fatona' and spoke a mix of Hindi and an unfamiliar dialect of Bengali. 'She mentioned a place called Bodalkhori, which we located in Madhya Pradesh. We checked with the MP Police, but there was no match,' Bidkar said. A few months later, more clarity emerged as the woman mentioned that she was from 'Noakhali'. A search indicated that it was a district in southeastern Bangladesh. When shown maps and names of locations from the district, her expressions changed. 'She reacted positively to 'Noakhali' but couldn't recall the village. She only said that there was a Radha Krishna temple near her home,' Bidkar added. The breakthrough came during a casual visit by Bidkar's son, who used Google Maps and Street View to show her images of temples in the area on his laptop. 'She immediately recognised one of them. She bowed and said she had visited it before. That's how we finally identified her village, Charbata, in Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali,' said Bidkar. Tracing the family Even then, the process of tracing her family was far from easy. Calls to officials in Bangladesh yielded no response. Eventually, Bidkar contacted Kolkata-based NGO Iswar Sankalp Foundation. 'Within 15 minutes, they connected with a journalist in Bangladesh who was able to find her family after verifying her brother's name and the temple location,' she said. The woman's family had assumed that she had died. 'We never imagined she could be in India. It has been over six years,' her family members told Bidkar during a video call. Meanwhile, Bidkar found out that the woman's mother was battling cancer. With renewed urgency, she reached out to the High Commission in New Delhi and the Deputy Commission in Kolkata. Support also came from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's office, Nagpur Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, and the Gondia police to speed up the paperwork. On May 13, 2025, the Bangladeshi woman received her travel permit. A small farewell was organised for her at RMH on June 11. Two days later, she was accompanied by a five-member team to the India-Bangladesh border. Her brother was called to receive her. After a brief interview at the border, she was handed over to her brother, who had been waiting there since early morning. 'Didn't want her to disappear into silence again' Before the handover, the woman's caregivers ensured that her family understood the treatment she was undergoing and the importance of continuing her medication. 'We didn't want her to disappear into silence again,' said Bidkar. Hospital authorities believe the woman's mental health condition may have worsened due to domestic violence. 'She had been married and reportedly went into depression as she was a victim of domestic violence. We still don't know how she reached India,' Bidkar added. She said Dr Satish Humne, medical superintendent at RMH, offered huge support in helping locate the woman's home. For Bidkar, the case will remain unforgettable. 'This was not just about finding a home. It was about helping someone find herself again. It took months of work, but she is back where she belongs,' she said. The hospital has helped several patients locate their homes in over 19 states across India.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
RMH, Maharashtra police & diplomats blur border for mentally ill
AI Image NAGPUR: A mentally challenged woman in her mid-30s landed in Gondia, 1,600km away from her native village in Noakhali, Bangladesh, under unexplained circumstances. She was rescued by Gondia cops, shifted to Regional Mental Hospital (RMH), Nagpur, treated, and reunited with her family after six years through diplomatic efforts and alacrity shown by Nagpur police. The remarkable reunion of the woman, Mona (name changed), with her family in Bangladesh materialised on June 12. On April 30, Mona was admitted to RMH by Gondia police. With no identification and only her name to share, she offered few clues about her origin. Under RMH's medical care, her condition stabilised, allowing her to recall fragments of her past. This sparked a search led by social service superintendent Kunda Bidkar (Katekhaye). Bidkar's attempts to trace Mona's family in Madhya Pradesh yielded no results. Undeterred, she turned to digital tools, using Google, Facebook, and language interpreters, even involving her son to scour social media. Her persistence paid off when she connected with Tapan Prodhan of Ishwar Sankalp Foundation, Kolkata, who collaborated with Shamsul Huda in Bangladesh. Huda verified Mona's address within 15 minutes, confirming she was from Bangladesh and was missing for over six years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Search Ends Here for Better Health Insurance Plans. Buy Now. Buy HDFC ERGO Get Quote Undo Her family, who searched tirelessly, presumed she was dead. The reunion process required intricate coordination with the High Commission in Delhi and deputy commissioners in Kolkata and Mumbai. "We still don't know how she entered India and landed in Gondia," said Bidkar. Bidkar sought support from Union minister Nitin Gadkari's office and Nagpur district collector Vipin Itankar. The case was referred to the SP, Gondia, with constable Sanjay Badwaik coordinating efforts. On May 13, Mona received a travel permit, marking a critical milestone. After completing immigration formalities at Howrah railway intelligence bureau, Mona was handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh, her brother, and a Bangladeshi NGO. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
