Lost Boy Raja to Reunite with Family After 12 Years Thanks to Social Media
In a heartwarming development, an 18-year-old boy named Raja, who has been living in childcare homes in Kerala since being separated from his parents during a train journey in 2012, is finally set to reunite with his family. The emotional reunion was made possible through the power of social media and the dedicated efforts of activists and officials.
A Journey Gone Wrong
The story began in 2012 when Raja's family was relocating from Chaibasa in West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, to Howrah, West Bengal. During the train journey, Raja inadvertently got off at one station and boarded another train heading to Ernakulam in Kerala. This simple mistake led to a separation that would last for over a decade.
Over the years, Raja was shifted between various shelter homes across Kerala. Recently, after turning 18, he was moved to a government aftercare home in Thalassery. It was here that his desire to find his family was reignited.
The Search Begins
Mohammed Ashraf O K, the former superintendent of the home, along with the new superintendent, spoke with Raja about his wish to locate his family. "We then reached out to our contacts across the country, seeking help," Ashraf explained. He shared Raja's details on a messaging app group dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of missing children.
Fardeen Khan, a native of Koderma associated with Mumbai-based Railway Children India, saw the message and contacted Jharkhand-based social media influencer Aayush Rana. Together, they decided to leverage social media to amplify the search.
Viral Reel Leads to Breakthrough
Raja provided key details about his family, including the names of his parents and siblings, as well as memories of his hilly village in Chaibasa and a nearby school. Using this information, Rana created a reel and shared it on social media on February 17, featuring Ashraf's contact number for tips.
The reel quickly went viral, garnering impressive engagement:
- Over 8,000 reposts
- Approximately 2.9 lakh shares
- Around 1.49 lakh likes
- More than 1,000 comments
"Within 48 hours, I got a call from someone who recognized Raja as his cousin," said Fardeen Khan. "He informed us that the boy's family had migrated to Bengal for work. We immediately contacted them and arranged a video call between Raja and his mother."
Official Confirmation and Next Steps
Jharkhand-based activist Baidnath Kumar, who also saw the viral reel, took proactive steps by contacting West Singhbhum police and district child protection officer Punita Tiwari. After speaking with Raja via video call, the administration confirmed that his family belonged to Hadimara village under Sonua police station in Chaibasa.
Interestingly, Kumar noted that no formal missing child complaint had been filed when Raja disappeared. Shashibala Bhengra, the officer in-charge of Sonua police station, provided an update: "The family, who worked at a brick kiln in Bengal, has returned to Chaibasa. The mother has positively identified Raja as her son. We are currently completing the necessary paperwork, and a team will soon depart for Kerala to bring him back home."
This case highlights the critical role of social media and community efforts in reuniting lost children with their families, offering hope and a new beginning for Raja after 12 long years.
