Ahmedabad: A 24-year-old woman from Surat, who claimed to have eloped to meet an online friend, was rescued by authorities in the city on Monday night. However, further investigation revealed that the woman, who had lost her father a year and a half ago and was undergoing treatment for mental health issues, had fabricated the story
“The woman contacted the Abhayam helpline, stating that she had travelled to Ahmedabad to meet a man she had befriended online, who had promised to marry her,” said a counsellor involved in the case. “The woman told us that she was unable to locate the man, who allegedly backed out of the plan after his parents intervened. She said that the man’s phone was also switched off.”
Upon contacting the woman’s family, authorities discovered a different narrative. “Her mother revealed that the woman has a history of mental health issues stemming from the loss of her father,” the counsellor explained. “She often experiences episodes where she wanders away from home if left unattended.”
The woman was subsequently reunited with her family.