Surat: Three Minors Rescued After Boarding Train to Uttar Pradesh, Cite Study Pressure
In a concerning incident from Surat, three young boys, aged 11, 14, and 15, went missing from their residential society in the Godadara police station area on Tuesday night. The disappearance triggered an intensive search operation by local authorities, who prioritized the case due to the minors' ages.
Timeline of the Disappearance
The boys were last seen playing in their society around 9 PM on Tuesday. Police investigations revealed that they later traveled to Neelgiri Circle, where they hired an autorickshaw to reach Surat railway station by approximately 11:30 PM. Around midnight, they boarded the Kutch Express, initiating a journey that would see them change trains in an attempt to reach Uttar Pradesh.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Kanan Desai, "Based on wide publicity of the children going missing via proper channels, we could successfully trace the children to MP's Katni Murwara railway station on Thursday evening."
Rescue and Investigation Efforts
Teams from Surat police's Zone 2 local crime branch and Godadara police swiftly alerted railway police and authorities across multiple stations, circulating photographs of the missing boys. Their efforts culminated on Thursday evening when railway police located and rescued the minors at Katni Murwara railway station in Madhya Pradesh.
The boys are currently housed at a correctional home as their parents travel to receive them. Police noted that the eldest boy had carried a bag, while the other two each took an extra pair of clothes, suggesting premeditation.
Motivation Behind the Journey
Initial statements from the boys indicated they were heading to meet the eldest boy's maternal grandmother in Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh. However, further investigation revealed a more pressing reason.
Desai elaborated, "They later told investigators that being pressured to study led them to try to go to Etawah." This admission has prompted authorities to delve deeper into the circumstances that drove the minors to undertake such a risky journey.
Police are continuing their investigation to understand the full context of the incident and ensure the well-being of the children upon reunion with their families.
