Police help Shivamogga teen trace father

Kochi: An 18-year-old girl from Shivamogga arrived in Kochi searching for her 'missing' father. Though she found him, she decided to return home as he was struggling to make ends meet for his second wife and five children. The father had left home 15 years back.
A BCom student at St Charles College in Shimoga, Lakshmi had arrived at Ernakulam south station last Tuesday with a childhood photo taken with her father.She was three when her father left Shivamogga after separating from his wife (Lakshmi's mother). She also had her father's diary that was given to her by her grandmother.
The women's police station came to Lakshmi's help after they were alerted about a girl who was wandering alone at railway station. After a three-day search, the police traced Lakshmi's father on Sunday. He also identified her.
Lakshmi found that his father was working as construction labourer and had remarried with five children. They were staying in a one room home.
Though she wanted to stay with her lost father, she finally decided to return home. Police then spoke to their counterparts in Shimoga. Ernakulam ACP K V Vijayan said that Lakshmi has been handed over to Child Welfare Committee which would take care of her till the relatives arrive from Shivamogga.