How Did Three Boys Go Missing from Shimla’s Oldest Boarding School?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three boys from Bishop Cotton School went missing during an outing.
- Police response was swift, leading to their recovery in just 24 hours.
- The boys were located in Kotkahai, an apple-producing area.
- Bishop Cotton School is a prestigious institution with students from across the globe.
- The cooperation of local residents was crucial in the search operation.
Shimla, Aug 10 (NationPress) Three young students from one of Asia's most historic boys’ boarding schools, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, established in 1859, have mysteriously vanished during a routine day out in the capital of Himachal Pradesh, according to police reports on Sunday.
After a thorough search lasting 24 hours, law enforcement located the boys in Kotkahai, a well-known apple-producing region in upper Shimla, on Sunday. Among the trio, one student from Mohali is related to a Punjab minister, another hails from a notable business family in Karnal, Haryana, and the third is from Kullu in the state.
The sixth-grade boys had ventured to Mall Road for shopping on Saturday, but while their companions returned, the three remained unaccounted for, as stated by the police.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi informed the media that dedicated police teams were deployed to locate the children. Additionally, police forces from Delhi and Haryana were enlisted to assist in the search. An official case has been filed.
Later that evening, Rohit Thakur, the state Education Minister and a resident of Kotkhai, announced that the police had successfully located the missing students in an impressively short timeframe.
He commended the police for their swift response and relentless efforts, which included mobilizing multiple search teams, following every potential lead, and tackling the challenge of the children lacking mobile phones.
The minister noted that the coordinated operation not only guaranteed the safe return of the boys but also eased the anxiety of their families. He expressed gratitude for the community's assistance in sharing crucial information, emphasizing that the operation demonstrated the police's professionalism, efficiency, and commitment to safeguarding citizens, especially minors.
Preliminary investigations revealed that CCTV footage captured the boys in various locations around Shimla during their outing, particularly on Mall Road, before they disappeared.
Bishop Cotton School is an elite institution drawing children from across India and beyond for education.
Every Saturday, students participate in outings, and with the exception of these three, all other children returned to the school as scheduled.