After scrutinising 200 CCTV recordings for over 14 days, the 11-year-old boy who went missing on March 10 was finally traced to a footpath near Nerul railway station. The Crime Detection Unit of the NRI Coastal Police Station, after relentless efforts, successfully located the child and reunited him with his parents. Investigations revealed that the boy had run away from home after being scolded by his father for not studying and being denied permission to play.
The boy, a sixth-grade student, lived in Karave village, Nerul, with his parents and elder sister. On March 10, he left home with his friend’s bicycle and did not return, prompting an extensive search by his family. When they failed to find him, they approached the NRI Police Station, where an immediate investigation was launched, and a case of kidnapping was registered. Following this, Senior Police Inspector Tukaram Pawale formed three special investigation teams to track him down.
The investigation team, led by Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Dhage, along with Police Sub-Inspectors Akash Thakre and Vishnu Wagh, and constables Vijay Devre, Jitendra Patil, Damodar Waghmare, Manik Dombale, Prashant Wagh, Manohar Ingle, and Sonawane, meticulously examined CCTV footage from multiple locations, including Nerul, Seawoods, T.S. Chanakya, Nerul village, and nearly 30 gardens.
“We found that the boy initially played near his home for around two hours before cycling towards TS Chanakya Chowk, then near DPS Lake, to Seawoods, Nerul, and finally to Nerul West Railway Station,” API Dhage said. The boy stayed with a nomadic tribe living on the footpath near Nerul railway station for over 14 days. “He told them his house was in Seawoods, and they tried to take him there but could not locate it,” the officer added.
During this period, he mingled with slum dwellers, ate whatever food they shared with him, and played with their children. The boy was finally found on Tuesday by the police and handed over to his family.
