Minor boy missing from Akola found in Pandharpur after 21-day search

Police have traced a missing 14yearold boy from Akola to Pandharpur in Maharashtra following a 21day search that involved examining footage from nearly 200 CCTVs and covering around 1500 km officials saidThe boy a resident of the Khadan police station area in Akola city had left home on the evening of November 11 without informing anyone reportedly after being scolded by his parents reported news agency PTIHis parents approached the police the next day prompting the registration of a missing person case and the launch of an investigationHowever the parents were unable to provide sufficient information to aid in locating the boy District Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak told reporters on WednesdayThe local crime branch team then collected information about the boy from his school tuition classes and neighbours The team also questioned the boys parents who told the police that they had scolded him before he left the home the official said reported PTIDuring examination of the CCTV footage at Akola railway station the boy was seen boarding a NagpurKolhapur express train at 8 pm on November 11A police team then travelled to seven cities covering 1500 km over several days They examined the CCTV footage of various railway stations on the route and the boy was seen getting down at Pandharpur railway station in Solapur district located around 500 km from Akola the official saidThe police then searched for the boy at the Pandharpur railway station and various other locations in the temple town They finally traced him to Sargam Chowk in Pandharpur on December 2 and later handed him over to his parents he said reported PTIChandak has announced a reward of Rs 10000 for the police team that traced the boy and reunited him with his familyNavi Mumbai reports 499 child kidnappings in 11 months 41 still missingAs many as 499 children were reported kidnapped in Maharashtras Navi Mumbai township between January and November this year and the police managed to trace 458 of them while 41 remain missing officials said on Wednesday reported news agency PTIAmong the 458 recovered children the reasons for their disappearance indicated more of emotional distress and personal circumstances rather than criminal intent as 128 of the cases were linked to love affairs and 114 to children running away after being scolded by parents they said reported PTIBesides 103 children had gone to relatives 63 left for trips and 48 went to a girlfriends house One case each involved mental disability and an accidental death report ADR a police release said reported PTIAmong these overall figures 25 cases pertained to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act it saidBetween January 1 and November 29 this year 499 children including 349 girls were reported kidnapped in Navi Mumbai The police traced 458 of them including 315 girls the release said reported PTIThe 41 children still missing comprise 34 girls and seven boys it saidThe police registered 483 cases of these child kidnappings and solved 442 of them achieving a detection rate of 9178 per cent as per the data reported PTIThe majority of these cases were registered in the Turbhe area 51 followed by Rabale 49 the release addedWith PTI inputs