Thane Police Reunite Specially Abled Teen with Family Through Innovative Operation Muskan Campaign
The Crime Branch's Child Protection Unit (CPU) in Thane has achieved a heartwarming success by reuniting a 17-year-old specially abled boy with his family under Operation Muskan. This emotional reunion brought immense relief to parents who had been desperately searching for their missing son for weeks.
Discovery and Initial Challenges
The teenager was first discovered wandering alone on railway platform No. 1 on December 19, 2025. Unable to communicate properly or identify himself due to his special needs, authorities immediately admitted him to a children's home for safety and protection. Police then began the painstaking task of tracing his family, facing significant challenges due to the boy's communication limitations.
During a routine visit to the shelter on January 9, a police constable managed to gather fragmentary clues from the boy through patient interaction. These included his father's name, familiarity with namaz (Islamic prayer), and a vague connection to the Mumbra area. However, initial checks at both Mumbra and Shil-Daighar police stations drew a complete blank as no missing complaint had been filed for the child.
Innovative Community Outreach Strategy
Faced with this dead end, the CPU launched an innovative search campaign that leveraged community networks. Police circulated the boy's photograph through multiple channels including local mosques, religious leaders, social workers, school WhatsApp groups, and various social media platforms. "We cast a wide net across the community to ensure maximum visibility," explained a police official involved in the operation.
The comprehensive outreach strategy proved remarkably effective when the boy's mother, Mohibonisa, contacted the CPU on January 23 after seeing her son's picture circulating online. She was able to establish his identity through proper documentation, and the emotional connection was confirmed when the child immediately recognized his mother during a subsequent video call.
Legal Formalities and Reunion
Following this breakthrough identification, authorities completed all necessary legal formalities and produced the boy before the Child Welfare Committee as required by protocol. After receiving the committee's official directions, police finally handed over the teenager to his grateful parents, culminating in a joyful family reunion that had seemed unlikely just weeks earlier.
Police officials have since appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and immediately inform the nearest police station or call the national child helpline 1098 if they spot any missing or abandoned child in their vicinity. This case demonstrates how coordinated community efforts can achieve remarkable results in child protection initiatives.
