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Edgeley, N.D. (AP) An exchange student from India whose weeklong disappearance stunned a North Dakota community is headed back to his home country after spending his last days in the U.S.

in protective custody.

His host mother says it was not necessary.

Colleen Mathern says 16-year-old Harman Singh should have been allowed to stay with her family instead of at the Jamestown law enforcement center for the past week. She said keeping him in custody was "overkill" that cost the county "a bunch of unnecessary money." Singh disappeared from Edgeley on May 16. He was taken into protective custody on May 24, after he called Mathern from Fergus Falls, Minn. He told her he had hitchhiked there to try to explore the world on his own but later regretted it.

Mathern said Singh will be escorted him back to India on Sunday.

Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-30-09 1703CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list