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National bravery award winner boy goes missing

Last Updated 20 May 2017, 10:20 IST

A national bravery award winning boy - who was honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year - and his brother has been missing from Jalgaon district - prompting the police to form special teams and launch a massive manhunt to track down the two brothers.

The boys - Nilesh (12) and Ganpat (7) - are missing from Muktainagar in Jalgaon district and there are fears that the duo could have been kidnapped. 

Their parents Revaram Bhil and Sundarbai - both work as labourers in farms - lodged a complaint with the Muktainagar police station on Friday evening. Another brother, Nikesh (10), is safe at home. 

According to the complaint, on Tuesday, everything was okay and then the Bhil couple reached home, their three children were playing. While Nilesh went missing on Wednesday, Ganpat went missing on Thursday. 

"Police has registered a case and investigations are underway. All efforts are being made to trace them," senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, a six-time MLA from Muktainagar and former Revenue Minister told Deccan Herald. 

Inspector Vandana Sonawane, the investigation officer said that investigations were in progress and no stones are being left unturned. "We have published appeals to the public in the local media today, put up posters with photos of both the boys at various public places, markets, bus and railway stations," Sonawane said. 

Informed sources said that this is not the first time that Nilesh went missing. "Nilesh had gone out of home twice, but for one or two days and had returned," the sources said, adding: "What is a matter of concern that this time two brothers are missing." Besides, both had disappeared on different days - and this has led to fears that they could have been kidnapped. "We are also looking at various angles including rivalry involving the family or ransom or they went missing or they went into jungles and could not trace the route back," the sources said. 
The Bravery Awards

Nilesh had received the General National Bravery Award in January 2016 - coinciding with the Republic Day celebrations - from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saving a village boy from drowning in a water tank the previous year.  The National Bravery Award scheme, initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW),  are awarded to children in the age group of 6-18 years for exemplary acts of bravery. The awards consist of five categories, including the Bharat Award, Sanjay Chopra Award, Geeta Chopra Award, Bapu Gaidhani Award and the General National Bravery Awards. The awardees receive a medal, a certificate, and cash prize. Bharat Award winners get a gold medal, while the others receive silver. The cash amount ranges from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. 

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(Published 20 May 2017, 10:20 IST)

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