Norway custody case: Grandparents thank government

Kolkata/New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) The grandparents of Abhigyan and Aishwarya, the two Indian NRI children who were taken into foster care by the Norwegian Childcare Services, Tuesday expressed happiness at the return of the children to India and lauded the government's efforts in bringing the toddlers back home.

Ajay Bhattacharya, the paternal grandfather of the kids who was at the New Delhi airport to receive the children, thanked the government for its 'unbelievable help' in getting the children back.

'We had lost all hope of getting the children back. It is all because of the efforts of the government that the children are back. I am so happy and proud. We hope the children will now have a peaceful and a normal childhood when they return to Kolkata,' he said.

Abhigyan, three, and Aishwarya, one, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, had been taken under protective care in May last year.

The siblings were given to their uncle, Arunabhash Bhattacharya, by a Norwegian court in the city of Stavanger Monday, following which the Indian government facilitated their return to India. The Norwegian court's decision came as a major breather for the Bhattacharya family, which had been trying to get the custody of the children from their foster parents for nearly a year now.

The Indian government had put in all diplomatic efforts to ensure that the siblings return to their homeland and grow up in their family environment.

Monotosh Chakrabarty, the maternal grandfather, hoped for a settlement of the marital discord between Anurup and Sagarika, the reports of which had earlier put in jeopardy the transfer of custody of the children.

'Sagarika is happy on their return but is pained that her children are not with her. I sincerely hope that whatever dispute is there between the couple is settled quickly so that the kids can get love and care from both their parents,' said Sagarika'a father in Kolkata.

Sagarika who according to Chakrabarty was at a relative's home in Kolkata, posted a comment on a social networking site after the children landed in the country.

'I do not know how my children are, but always pray to God that they should be well in future,' she wrote conveying her regards to government and those who stood up to bring the children back.

The two children are expected to arrive in Kolkata Wednesday.