Officer comes to orphan’s rescue

Assumes guardianship of 12-year-old whose mother was murdered

September 05, 2018 01:25 am | Updated 07:43 am IST - CHENNAI

 Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Balamurugan with Karthik (in green T.shirt) and his children.

Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Balamurugan with Karthik (in green T.shirt) and his children.

In a heart-warming gesture, a police officer came forward to help a 12-year-old boy who had been orphaned after his mother was murdered three days ago.

The boy’s mother Parimala, 33, had been living alone in a rented house on Subburayan Street, Nammalvarpet, ever since her husband Govindaraj died a few years ago.

Her only son Karthik, aged 12, was studying at a boarding school in Mylapore. She was murdered on Friday by a 17-year-old boy who was living on the first floor of the building where she lived.

M. Balamurugan, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ayanavaram, visited the spot and made enquiries with the Inspector of Police, Secretariat Colony, on whether any relative of the deceased had been informed. He was told that the deceased had a 12-year-old son, who was waiting at the police station. The police had not shared details about his mother’s death with the boy.

Mr. Balamurugan then went to the police station and consoled the boy, and assured him that he had nothing to worry about as the police would extend all possible help.

On returning home, Mr. Balamurugan, who has a daughter and a son, had a discussion with his wife and decided to extend a helping hand to the boy.

Gives undertaking

The next morning, he gave an undertaking to the school where Karthik is studying, offering to be the boy’s guardian.

The officer then took the boy home.

“The object of my gesture was that the boy should not be misled and not indulge in a tit-for-tat act. We should ensure the future of boy and help him lead a good life in society,” he said.

Mr. Balamurugan said he would also explore the possibility of adopting the boy through legal means.

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