Bhopal: Four days after six-year-old Ansh Maina mysteriously disappeared from a private hospital in the Royal Market area, he was traced safe in Mathura, police said on Friday. How did he get there? He had boarded the Patalkot Express, and railway authorities found him in the train.
A team from Koh-e-Fiza police reached Mathura and brought the child back after completing legal formalities with the Child Welfare Committee.
Ansh had gone missing on Tuesday morning while accompanying his mother, who was admitted to a private hospital for jaundice treatment. He wandered out of the hospital premises around 9:30 am and failed to return, prompting his family to lodge a missing complaint.
In a CCTV camera, the boy was spotted with a mentally unstable man, cops said. After questioning the man, police concluded that the two had walked together up to the Navbahar Sabzi Mandi area via Noormahal, Imami Gate, and Ghoda Nakkas before separating.
Further probe revealed that Ansh kept roaming through different localities including Nadra Bus Stand, Mangalwara before reaching Bhopal railway station after walking nearly four kilometres. CCTV footage showed him boarding Patalkot Express alone on the intervening night of June 16 and 17. Koh-e-Fiza police teams began tracking the train route and alerted railway authorities. Meanwhile, RPF personnel in Mathura noticed the child sitting alone in the train and took him into protective custody. During questioning, his identity was established and he was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee.
Police said Ansh is not mentally fit and does not attend school. No evidence of kidnapping or foul play has emerged so far.
More than 100 personnel from around a dozen police stations were involved in the search operation. Police said sustained surveillance and technical analysis helped trace the child safely.
Stay updated with the latest Bhopal news. Download the TOI App.
