Twist in Geeta’s tale as she refuses to acknowledge ‘family members’

Geeta, the deaf-mute Indian girl who returned home on Monday from Pakistan after 15 years, refused to recognise people who claimed to be her lost family members. A DNA test is being conducted to clear the confusion. “Geeta refused to recognise her family after meeting them. The government will still conduct a DNA test,” Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told a press conference on Monday. “Since four families from as many states have claimed Geeta to be their daughter, I have written to the chief ministers of these states to probe the claim. For the time being, we are sending Geeta to an institution in Indore (Madhya Pradesh),” said the minister.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has taken her DNA samples for testing to confirm her parent’s identity. Test results will be known in 15–20 days. Geeta will stay in Mook Badhir Kendra in Indore until her parents are found, Sushma Swaraj said on Monday. The External Affairs Minister also appreciated Edhi foundation for protecting Geeta’s religious freedom and giving her a Krishna idol.

Meanwhile, the reception at the Pakistan high commission in the Capital for Geeta was cancelled in the wake of the major quake that jolted south Asia.

Earlier, Geeta’s flight from Karachi landed in the morning at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where she was received by officials from Ministry of External Affairs as well as from the Pakistan High Commission. “Geeta, welcome home our daughter,” tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who also met the 23-year-old after she arrived here. “My heart has always been in India,” Geeta was quoted as telling the Minister by MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup. She was accompanied by five members of the Edhi foundation who were taking care of her in Pakistan.

Geeta was reportedly just seven or eight years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers 15 years ago at the Lahore railway station. She was adopted by the Edhi Foundation’s Bilquees Edhi and lived with her in Karachi. Bilquis and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, have accompanied Geeta.