Frustrated with no outings, eight Malad kids run off to Gorakhpur

As their parents displayed little interest in showing them a good time, two girls and six boys - all minors - from Dinsdoshi, Malad (E) decided to take matters into their own hands. On October 17, Aroop (16), Riteish (13), Zubina (15), Roshni (13), Girish (17), Aditya (16), Rohit (16) and Abdul (17) - all from different families - got together at a place near Infiniti mall in Malad.

Everyone agreed with Aroop's plan that they visit his native place Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Cops said Aroop was infatuated with one of the girls.

The parents were unaware of the children's arrangement. On October 18, Zubina's mother Begum Banoo filed a missing complaint at Dindoshi police station. Roshni's mother Nargis and parents of the other six minors also turned up when they found out their kids had disappeared as well.

On October 19, the runaways reached Gorakhpur. Immediately, Aroop's grandfather - who too was oblivious of the children's plan - informed the teen's brother. News travelled quickly to families of the other seven kids.

Aroop's brother and Riteish's father left for Gorakhpur on October 19, reached there on Oct 21, and brought all the eight children back home safely.

"Zubina and Roshni were sent for medical examination to make sure nothing untoward happened to them. The results came out negative. All the kids have been handed back to their respective families," said one of the investigating officers, who did not wish to be named, as he is not authorised to speak to the media. MiD DAY spoke to Zubina and Roshni. "Our parents don't take us for trips anywhere. So we decided to go to Aroop's grandparents' home in Gorakhpur," they said.

(Names of the children have been changed as they are minors)u00a0