TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Several measures purportedly taken by Apna Ghar at Merces seem to be going in vain, as yet again a teenage girl, who was lodged at the home about a week back, escaped from the institution early Thursday morning. Luckily, she was traced at her home in Vasco, hours later.
Sources said the girl, aged 15, ran away at about 6.30 am when girl inmates were brought to the ground floor below the dormitory to prepare ‘chappatis’ for breakfast. The girls are usually tasked with cooking food for the inmates.
“She jumped off the fence and ran towards the bus stop from where she boarded a bus to Vasco and landed at her house. Her mother then informed the police about the child’s whereabouts,” said an official. The police in the presence of NGO SCAN took the girl’s custody and lodged her back at Apna Ghar where she is kept under strict security. Her statement was recorded thereafter.
Interestingly, Apna Ghar sources narrated that she fled because she believes that the institution is ‘haunted’ since many inmates have allegedly committed suicide there. “She does not like to stay in Apna Ghar because she feels it is not a nice place and everything is broken…She is also allegedly told by the Apna Ghar staff that many children have committed suicide here,” disclosed the source.
