Two teenage students from a government residential school in Bhopal, who had been missing for nearly a week, were safely traced and recovered from Ujjain in a police operation that hinged on digital surveillance. The Class 9 boys, both aged 16, had slipped away from their hostel in the Ratibad area after being reprimanded by teachers.
The Midnight Disappearance and Search
The incident began on the night of December 12. According to police reports, the two students were caught by their teachers engaging in mischief on the school campus. After being scolded and informed that their parents would be contacted, the boys waited until around 1 am on December 13. Once other hostelmates were asleep in the common hall, they left the school premises.
The school authorities officially lodged a missing persons complaint on December 13, triggering a search operation. Initial investigations revealed that the students were first spotted in the Neelbad and Barkheda Nathu areas of Bhopal. From there, they traveled to Sehore Road and eventually boarded a bus destined for Ujjain.
The Cyber Breakthrough and Recovery
The crucial breakthrough in the case came on Friday night, a week after their disappearance. The boys purchased a new mobile phone in Ujjain and logged into their social media accounts to contact an acquaintance. This digital activity allowed the police to pinpoint their exact location through coordinated cyber monitoring.
Acting swiftly on this technical lead, the Ratibad police, led by SHO RB Sharma, coordinated with their counterparts in Ujjain. A joint team successfully located and recovered both students at approximately 9 pm. Police have confirmed that the boys are safe and that further procedural actions are being taken.
Background of the Students and Aftermath
The two recovered students are both 16-year-old residents of Berasia and come from farming families. They have been studying at the government residential school in Ratibad since Class 6 and are currently enrolled in Class 9. Their week-long absence had caused significant concern for their families and school authorities.
The case highlights the increasing role of cyber surveillance in modern policing, especially in tracing missing persons. It also underscores the challenges faced by residential schools in managing adolescent students. The police have not disclosed the specific nature of the 'mischief' that led to the reprimand, focusing instead on the successful recovery and the well-being of the children.
