Police felicitate three Samaritans who rescued girl pushed into Hussainsagar

Three men rescued a six-year-old girl who was allegedly pushed into Hussainsagar lake by her mother in Hyderabad. The mother, who was reportedly distressed by the medical expenses for the child’s illness, allegedly pushed her into the lake and fled, police said.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar on Wednesday felicitated three men who rescued her, who were identified as autorickshaw driver Fakruddin, private employee K. Balakrishna and businessman Mohammed Afsar. He presented them with cash awards in recognition of their courage and presence of mind.

According to the police, the woman from Bowenpally has two daughters, aged eight and six. The younger child was reportedly suffering from an illness for the past two months. Unable to cope with the mounting medical expenses, she allegedly decided to kill the child. She brought both daughters to Tank Bund and sent the elder girl away on the pretext of buying ice cream. She then allegedly pushed the six-year-old into Hussainsagar when no one was watching, and fled the spot.

However, the girl managed to cling to a bamboo pole in the water and screamed for help. Balakrishna, a resident of Moti Nagar in Borabanda, heard her cries and alerted passers-by. Fakruddin, who was travelling along Tank Bund, stopped his autorickshaw after noticing the commotion and immediately jumped into the lake. With the assistance of Afsar, a resident of Nacharam, he pulled the girl out of the water and brought her to the road, the police said.

Patrolling police personnel reached the spot after receiving information and shifted the child to Gandhi Hospital for treatment.