Ahmedabad School Students' Brief Disappearance Triggers Police Search
In a concerning incident in Ahmedabad, six Class 8 students from Divan Ballubhai School in the Paldi area went missing for several hours on Wednesday evening. The students left the school premises around the time the campus closed, causing significant alarm among parents and leading to immediate police involvement.
Swift Police Action Leads to Safe Recovery
According to police officials, the students were later traced and brought back safely. The authorities confirmed that the incident was resolved without any harm to the children, providing relief to the worried families and school staff.
Social Media Dispute at the Heart of the Incident
School authorities revealed that the disappearance was linked to an earlier dispute among the students on digital platforms, specifically a WhatsApp group and Instagram. One of the students had complained to the school management about the issue, prompting the school to summon the parents of those involved.
When parents of two students arrived at the school after hours, they discovered their children were not present. This immediately raised concerns, and the school management informed the police at approximately 6:30 PM to initiate a search operation.
Official Statements and Investigation Details
School principal Vipul Dave confirmed the incident, stating, "Six students of Class 8 did not go home after school hours. We informed the police and they were later found. Initially, we thought they might have gone to the flower show, but they were located elsewhere."
City district education officer Rohit Chaudhary noted that the principal had informed his office about the missing students. "We sought a detailed report from the school after receiving information that some students were unaccounted for," he said, highlighting the educational authorities' proactive response.
Paldi police inspector Manju Pardava provided further insight, explaining, "There was an internal issue among the students, reportedly related to appearing for examinations. Due to fear, they ran out of the school."
Sequence of Events and Safe Return
Police investigations revealed that the students first went to Parimal Garden before proceeding to the residence of one of the students. From there, law enforcement officials successfully traced them and ensured their safe return to their families.
This incident underscores the growing challenges schools face with student conflicts spilling over into social media platforms. It also highlights the importance of swift coordination between parents, school authorities, and police in ensuring student safety.