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19-Year-Old Bravery Award Winner Who Helped Police Crack Delhi Blasts Case, Now Lives On The Streets

19-Year-Old Bravery Award Winner Who Helped Police Crack Delhi Blasts Case, Now Lives On The Streets
NEW DELHI, INDIA - JUNE 02: Boys selling balloons wait for customers at the India Gate monument on June 2, 2012 in New Delhi, India. A Heat wave continues across the Northern India capital and expects to remain above 40 degrees celsius all week. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images )
Daniel Berehulak via Getty Images
NEW DELHI, INDIA - JUNE 02: Boys selling balloons wait for customers at the India Gate monument on June 2, 2012 in New Delhi, India. A Heat wave continues across the Northern India capital and expects to remain above 40 degrees celsius all week. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images )

A 12-year-old boy was selling balloons when he saw two terrorists plant bombs inside a trash can on Delhi's Barakhamba Road on September 13, 2008. That was the day Rohan's (name changed) life was turned around completely.

At least 30 people were killed and over 100 injured in five blasts in the national capital. Rohan, who was only 12 then, helped police identify the two militants who were responsible for the Delhi blasts.

At next year’s Republic Day, he was awarded the President’s Gallantry award. An NGO in Delhi called Apna Ghar Salaam Balak Trust took the young boy in.

Seven years later, Rohan is back on the road as the NGO had to let him go after he turned 18. He now lives with 23 other people near Hanuman Mandir and is struggling to complete his studies.

"I have to appear for three exams in October to pass class 12 but there is no way I can study under the present conditions,” Rohan told Hindustan Times.

Rohan is looking for some support and a place to live in to finish his education, as his class 12 exams are scheduled for October.

Sunil Kumar Aledia from the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to rehabilitate Rohan, reports The Hindu. "It would be a national shame if we are not able to take care of him,” Aledi told The Hindu.

Rohan's father told HT that the government has promised to offer Rohan a job after he finishes his class 12 exams.

"I was promised a decent chance at completing my studies and getting a good job. I hope they keep their word,” Rohan was quoted as saying.

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