Three minor boys have gone missing after leaving their homes for tuition in the capital city, triggering concern among their families and local residents. Two days have passed since the children went missing, but their whereabouts remain unknown.
Following a complaint lodged at the Chandrasekharpur police station, police launched an extensive search operation. Three teams have been formed to trace the minors, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police monitoring the investigation.
Police are examining CCTV footage from Chandrasekharpur, Patharagadia and nearby areas, besides checking footage around the railway station. Investigators are also trying to establish the children’s movements after they left for tuition.
Police Search Through the Night
Police personnel continued the search through the night, while the children’s parents and residents of the Sitanath and Adarsh Basti areas resumed the search early in the morning.
The fact that the three minors do not use mobile phones has made the investigation more challenging. Police are questioning their tuition teacher, friends, family members and others who may have information about their movements.
Investigators are also examining when and where the children were last seen and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
The parents, who have been distressed since the children went missing, have appealed for their safe return. Police have assured the families that all possible efforts are being made to trace the children at the earliest.
Over 20,000 Children Reported Missing in Two Years
The incident has also brought attention to the wider issue of missing women and children in Odisha. According to a written reply by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the Assembly, 45,796 women and 20,528 children were reported missing in the state over a two-year period.
Of these, 30,171 women and 15,976 children were subsequently traced or rescued, leaving thousands of cases unresolved during the period cited in the Assembly reply.