Geeta: Lost deaf-mute Indian girl home after 13 years missing in Pakistan
Geeta was about 11 when she crossed from India into Pakistan - but how this happened remains unclear
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A deaf-mute Indian girl stranded in Pakistan for 13 years after wandering over one of the world's most militarised borders arrived home on Monday to be reunited with the family she has identified from photographs.
The story of Geeta, a Hindu woman in her early 20s, has captivated people on both sides of the border at a time of heightened tension between the nuclear-armed rivals.
"A daughter returns home. Geeta arrives in New Delhi accompanied by members of Edhi Foundation," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter, referring to the Pakistani charity group that has looked after her.
Geeta was about 11 when she crossed from India into Pakistan. Exactly how is not clear but Geeta mimes an explosion and shows how she ducked and ran before being caught by armed men.
At first, she was kept at a children's home in the city of Lahore, where she was given the Muslim name Fatima.
She would point at maps of India, especially to an area in the south of Jharkhand State until she was able to finally communicate she was from India, not Pakistan.
Early on Monday, Geeta left the charity bound for the airport in the city of Karachi for a flight to New Delhi.
Wearing a traditional red outfit with her head covered by a loose scarf, she smiled, waved to television cameras, and joined her hands in a traditional Indian greeting before climbing into a van to the airport.
"Geeta stayed with us for 13 years. Now it's time for her to go home," said Faisal Edhi, son of the founder of the Edhi Foundation that looked after the girl
She was headed to meet a family from India's Bihar state whom she says she recognised from photos sent by the Indian High Commission in Pakistan.
Edhi said investigations will be done to be certain the family is actually hers.
"If the DNA doesn't match, the Indian authorities will continue the search for her family."
Edhi thanked India and Pakistan for their role in Geeta's repatriation.
Hostilities have kept apart many families since majority-Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan became separate countries in 1947.
Geeta's story attracted much attention following a film with a similar plot that was released this year.
In the movie "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", actor Salman Khan plays an Indian man who finds a mute Pakistani girl and tries to reunite her with her family.
The scriptwriters were unaware of Geeta's story but the movie led to a surge in interest in her.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments