Bhubaneswar, July 22: The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Bhubaneswar, on Friday rescued a minor girl who had fled her Mumbai home fearing punishment for allegedly stealing Rs 500 from her neighbour’s house.

The RPF took custody of the girl after railway hawkers told them about the 13-year-old sitting on a platform bench for a long time.

The inspector-in-charge of the RPF police station said the girl’s name was Nilima Trinath Sahu. Though she was a native of Bhaabandha in Berhampur, her entire family had been staying at Bail Bazar of Kranti Nagar in Mumbai for several years.

Her father worked as a carpenter in Mumbai and the inspector said that the girl studied in Class VII. “When asked she told us that recently cash worth Rs 500 was stolen from her neighbour’s house. The neighbours had accused her of stealing the money and reported the matter to her parents. Even her parents suspected her and abused her. Unable to bear this, she fled from her house,” the inspector said.

The police said the girl might have reached the city by the East Coast Express. She, however, told the police that she had first arrived in Berhampur and from there took another train to reach the city.

The police informed Ruchika Child Helpline and handed over the girl to them to keep her there until her parents arrived to take her back. The police have also informed the girl’s relatives in Mumbai. They are expected to come and take her back.

“The girl did not give us the contact number of her parents as she feared they would beat her up. So we took the number of her kin and have informed them about the incident. They are coming to take her home,” said a helpline staff.

She also said the girl would be counselled today to know what made her leave home. However, she added that the girl would be produced before the Child Welfare Committee tomorrow. But doubt were raised over the girl’s release after a helpline member said that she might not be handed over to her aunt and uncle in the absence of her parents.