A 65-year-old differently-abled woman who had gone missing from the Muthialpet area was safely rescued by the Chennai City Police’s Kaaval Karangal team and reunited with her family after due enquiry, following the guidance of the Commissioner of Police.
On 17.12.2025, information along with a photograph was received through the Kaaval Karangal WhatsApp help number stating that an elderly woman was found in a helpless condition near a bus stand within the limits of T-16 Semmenchery Police Station under the Tambaram Police Commissionerate. Acting on this information, volunteers of the Chennai City Police Kaaval Karangal team rushed to the spot and rescued the elderly woman.
During preliminary enquiry, it was found that the woman was unable to speak or hear, her fingers were not clearly identifiable, and she was in a vulnerable condition. For her safety, she was rescued along with the cash amount of Rs. 2,368/- found with her and, through the T-16 Semmenchery Police Station formal procedure, she was accommodated at “Kai Koduppom” Old Age Home at Mudichur, where she was provided proper care. Her photograph was also circulated to all police stations by the Kaaval Karangal team to trace missing person complaints.
Further enquiry revealed that the rescued woman was Mumtaz (Female, aged 65), a differently-abled person who is hearing- and speech-impaired and mildly mentally challenged. Her husband had passed away earlier. It was confirmed that she had gone missing on 07.12.2025 while travelling from Muthialpet to her nephew’s residence at S.A. Colony 10th Street, Kodungaiyur. A missing complaint had been lodged at N-3 Muthialpet Police Station, and a case under the “Woman Missing” category was registered on 12.12.2025, following which police teams were searching for her.
Based on the identification, the kaaval Karangal team informed her nephew, Shafiq. On 18.12.2025, at the Police Commissioner’s Office, Vepery, as per the directions of the Commissioner of Police, Chennai City, Thiru A. Arun, IPS, the rescued elderly woman Mumtaz was formally handed over, along with the cash amount of Rs. 2,368/-, to her family members by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), Thiru Vijayendra Bidari, IPS.
The family members, who had been anxiously searching for her, expressed their heartfelt gratitude with tears to the Chennai City Police officers, Kavalar Karangal team members and volunteers for rescuing and safely reuniting Mumtaz with them. The event was attended by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Public Relations Officer) Dr. M.S. Bhaskar, Kavalar Karangal Inspector Mrs. Mary Raju, and volunteers.
Since 2021, the Kaaval Karangal initiative of the Chennai City Police has rescued 9,285 homeless and destitute persons, of whom 1,498 missing persons have been reunited with their families.
The Chennai City Police have appealed to the public that for assistance to homeless, abandoned or sick persons within the Chennai City Police limits, the Kaavala Karangal Helpline Number 94447 17100 may be contacted.
