NRI couple to get back their kids

After Norway nightmare, they will leave for India

After eight months of continuous struggle with the government of Norway, the Indian couple—Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya— are going to get their children Abhigyan and Aishwarya whom the Barnevarne—the child care service of the government— took away the babies and placed them under the foster care. They alleged that the couple mishandled the babies.

“On Wednesday morning, I got the information from my lawyer Sebin Kjetil Nodesbn that Barneverne is ready to handover the babies to my brother Arunavas and it will take another week or so for him to come and take the children to India” Anurup Bhattacharya told Deccan Herald over phone from Stavanger in Norway.

“It was a nightmarish experience for us and we want to leave this country as soon as possible. After I take the custody of the children, we’ll go back to India”, said Bhattacharya who works as a geophysicist for Schlumberger at Stavanger, Norway.

“I am thankful to the government of India and all the people of the country who stood by us in the days of my pains and isolation. We had nothing to do, but cry. There was none who could help me out”, said an emotional Anurup. Speaking to Deccan Herald Sagarika Bhattacharya said: “For the last nine months, we’re having a nightmarish experience and I have lost all faith on the legal system of Norway. If we move the court again, it’ll take again another six months, we don’t want to stay here even for a day.”   The problem started when Barnevarne officials considered the couple was not capable of handling the babies and took away Abhigryan and four-month-old Aishwarya in May 2011, and placed them permanently in two different foster cares. The couple was allowed to meet their children once a week, and only for an hour.

Things started to change when External Affairs Minister S M Krishna spoke to his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store on Tuesday,  requesting him to ensure the return of the kids to their NRI parents.

The Norwegian government is understood to have indicated that it might not stand in the way if Abhigyan and Aishwarya’s grandparents, Manotosh and Shikha Chakrabarty, who live in Kolkata, moves the Norwegian court to get the custody of the children.  “I want them to come back immediately and stay here. They might not stay in that luxury but atleast, there’ll be peace” Sagarika’s father Monotosh  Chakraborty said.