2 missing Kerala Class 12 girls reach home; statements get recorded

Malappuram/Kerala: The girls who were found in Pune, Maharashtra, after they fled Tanur of Kerala’s Malappuram, have been brought back. They arrived at Tirur railway station with a police team at 12 noon on Saturday and were received by their parents and siblings.

Earlier, the parents had spoken to the girls on video call.

Currently, the girls' statements are being recorded. They will then be produced before the Kerala Child Welfare Committee. It is reported that their families could collect them later.

Based on the statement of the girls, more charges will be filed against Akbar Rahim, who helped them leave Kerala.

Earlier, he had arrived at Tirur railway station from Mumbai and was taken into custody by the police.

Meanwhile, Education Minister V Sivankutty said that the girls would be provided with counselling, psychological support, and all other kinds of support.

Police had said on Thursday that both class 12 students of a government higher secondary school had left home to attend an examination on Wednesday but never appeared for it. School teachers informed their family members, after which a complaint was lodged with the Tanur police, PTI reported.

According to police sources, the girls' mobile phone tower location was traced to Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage from Tirur railway station, recorded on Wednesday afternoon, showed the girls arriving there. However, they reportedly had changed out of their school uniforms into different clothes, leading investigators to believe they may have boarded a train from Tirur, sources said.