Kolkata: ‘Missing’ 13-year-old back after seven hours

KOLKATA: A 13-year-old St James’ School student who went “missing” after school hours on Monday led to a seven-hour hunt by the police and family friends who took to social media, seeking help to get the boy traced. The Phoolbagan family, however, was relieved when the teenager was brought back home at night. The Class-VI student had gone out with friends without informing his parents or family.
The student’s mother told TOI, “My son has been brought back home just now. We thank all those who had prayed for his safety. We haven’t yet asked him where he had gone because he is very scared.” Police said the child had gone out with his friends after school without informing anyone.
Cops who appeared reluctant to share further details added the child told them that his parents had opposed his going out with friends, so he chose not to inform them. “The child has reunited with his family,” an officer said.
The boy, who usually returns home from school in a pool car, did not board it after classes got over on Monday. The pool car driver said he could not spot him in the area.
Once his father was informed about the disappearance of the boy, he alerted Phoolbagan police.
The Beniapukur police lodged a missing diary and launched the hunt to trace him. Police instructed the worried family to inform them if any call came from any unknown person. Cops said to have scanned several CCTV footage. “The last footage near the school shows that he had come out of the school and moved towards the pool car. But he did not board the pool car. The distance between the school gate and the pool car is about 200 metres. We summoned several pool and school bus drivers to know what happened in between,” said a police officer.
All police stations in and around the area had been alerted about the boy and the missing person squad of detective department started probing the case along with local police. “We might talk to his friends on Tuesday. The school has so far been cooperating with us,” said a police officer.
Police said they alerted all RPF and GRP units at railway stations and a special vigil had been mounted at Esplanade and Babughat bus depots. However, the boy was traced with his friends in the city at an undisclosed location. He was later brought back home.