New Delhi: A kidnapped family who had been held under unlawful detention, by their loaners for nearly a month, were finally freed by the Police after an English news channel,  NewsX highlighted their plight.

The family of Bilal Ahmed, a cancer patient, and his wife Kulsoom, and a four children, one a five year old son, was kept hostage for 26 days, in Baniyar, Bandipora district, by Ali Mohd Wagay and Ghulam Mohd Dar. The duo of Wagay and Dar runs a security agency, and had apparently given money, amounting to more than one lakh to Ahmed, which he couldn’t pay off…

Dar was too skeptical to let go of Ahmed, as he had spent money from his pocket, and was afraid to lose it, if he would let Ahmed go free.

“ I was kidnapped for money, with my wife and kids…I was brought here by Ali Mohd Wagay who runs the security agency…’’ said Ahmed, to NewsX.

Even his traumatized five year old son knew that they were kidnapped, though he couldn’t understand the impact of it evidently. ’We have been here from last twenty days…..We have been kept here for money,’’ he said, with his mom, who was scared that they will be killed.

Police finally to0k action and freed them, after NewsX reported the matter, and the family gave their thanks to be relieved from the nightmare they were living.

In yet another incident,  NewsX  helped save the life of a teenage girl who had a hole in her heart. NewsX ran a story on December 16th, 2010 about 14 year old Sonali Malhotra of Allahabad, who had a hole in her heart and was slowly inching towards sure death. Sonali had aspirations, desires, and hope, just like any other average girl of her age, but she couldn’t play, sing or paint because of the complications.

Rajiv Malhotra, father of Sonali, is a mobile phone repair mechanic, who earned less than Rs 2000 per month and had already spent all his life’s savings on her treatment. And when he was informed that the cost for a permanent solution to Sonali’s problem would be around Rs 5 lacs, its was curtains on his hope.

But as they say, the darkest hour of the night is just before dawn. News X ran this story featuring Sonali’s bleak condition supported by her Doctor D Prakash’s verdict on the case and requested the viewers to offer financial assistance. Within 24 hours of telecast, Chairman of D Y Patil College contacted the Network and Sonali’s family, offering to bear all expenses towards Sonali’s heart surgery. It’s unbelievable but true, reiterating the power of press and the impact of responsible journalism on the society.

Life’s sunny now, again for Sonali and her parents, and she is looking forward to become an Engineer and support her family…