Pune: In an unexpected outcome during a routine checkpoint, Tathawade traffic police facilitated the emotional reunion of an 80-year-old missing woman, Lakshmi Wankhede, with her son, Gautam Wankhede, after an 18-month separation.
For over a year and a half, Lakshmi Wankhede had lived near the IT Park junction in Tathawade, setting up her makeshift shelter on an abandoned handcart.
She had difficulty recalling details about herself or her residence. During this time, local workers and Tathawade traffic police regularly provided her with basic necessities, including food and clothing.
In a checkpoint operation, police stopped a vehicle for routine questioning, and the driver happened to recognize the elderly woman nearby as the missing mother of a local resident, Gautam Wankhede.
He shared Gautam’s contact number with police officials, who immediately contacted Gautam to inform him about his mother’s location.
The reunion was an emotional one for Gautam, who, having recently moved to Alandi Devachi, lost contact with his mother 18 months ago. Without a photo of her, he hadn’t filed a formal report but had searched for her extensively in Pune and nearby areas for months.
Lakshmi, meanwhile, had drifted from Alandi to Tathawade, where she made her temporary residence. Thanks to the checkpoint and the quick action of the police, mother and son were finally brought back together.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Bapu Bangar led the checkpoint operation along with Assistant Police Inspector Madhukar Thorat and Head Constable Raju Bhosle.
Their swift actions and vigilance brought closure to the Wankhede family after a long and challenging separation.