Thiruvananthapuram: Members of the Malayali Association, who had located a 13-year-old girl missing from Kerala in Vishakhapatnam, revealed that a group of women intervened and attempted to claim the child when the rescue operation was underway.

However, the group hesitated after the Association representatives posed several questions. The child's responses helped the members quickly confirm her identity.

"The girl was sleeping in the upper berth. When I inquired with the family nearby, they said she was not their child but was with a group of women. The group, staying in another cabin, initially claimed that the child was with them but became evasive when we asked more questions. We then woke the child and verified her identity by comparing her with the photo," said ARG Unnithan of the Malayali Association.

"They were migrant workers. When we asked for tickets and other identification, they panicked. Once we exited the train with the child, they did not try to stop us," said Haridas, a member of the Association.