Couple fights for return of lost son

AHMEDABAD, India, July 26 (UPI) -- A Muslim couple in India plans to appeal a court decision that their 9-year-old son should remain with the Hindu family with whom he has lived for six years.

Mohammed Salim Shaikh and his wife Jaibunnisa got separated from their son, Muzaffar, during anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat. They only learned July 14 that he was alive, with his identity confirmed by DNA testing.

But Muzaffar, now known as Vivek Vikram Patni, said he wants to stay with Meena Patni, the woman who has been his mother since he was 2 1/2, The Times of India reported Saturday. A municipal court in Ahmedabad ruled Wednesday he should remain with Patni, whose husband died five years ago, leaving her to raise Vivek and four other children on her earnings selling fish and vegetables.

"He is dearer to me than my other kids," she said.

The Shaikhs said they will take their case to the Gujarat high court, arguing that the Patnis told police years ago that they would surrender the boy if his parents were traced.