Pune: In a touching example of alertness and empathy, Sanjay Margale, a traffic constable from the Bund Garden Traffic Division, extended timely help to two mentally challenged minor girls found wandering aimlessly at Shahir Amar Chowk.
Margale, who was on duty at the time, noticed the young girls appearing lost and disoriented. Trusting his instincts, he approached them out of concern. Due to their mental condition, the girls were unable to speak clearly, but one of them managed to communicate her uncle’s phone number through gestures. Margale promptly made a call and was informed that the two had been reported missing from the Khandala Police Station in Yavatmal district.
The situation was particularly delicate as the girls — later identified as Savita Anant Jadhav (11) and Asha Anant Jadhav (16) — were not only minors but also mentally challenged, heightening the urgency of securing their safety. Margale swiftly contacted officials from the Khandala police and ensured the girls were moved to the ST Stand police outpost under the jurisdiction of the Faraskhana Police Station for protection.
Margale recounted, “During my morning duty on Monday, I saw two young girls standing alone, clearly distressed. They couldn’t speak properly, but with gestures, they made it clear they needed help. I gave them my phone, and they dialed their uncle. After understanding their situation, I immediately ensured their safe handover to the nearby police station.”
Police sources later confirmed that the sisters had gone missing from their residence in Yavatmal just a day prior. With limited ability to communicate, the girls struggled to explain who they were or where they came from, but thanks to Margale’s intervention and presence of mind, their family was quickly traced.
Efforts are now underway by Pune Police to reunite the girls with their loved ones at the earliest.
