Image showing a boy walking along a railroad track. For representational purposes.
Credit: iStock Photo
Mangaluru: The II PU student Diganth who went missing from Farangipete and was traced on Saturday in Udupi, had travelled to various places, after leaving home fearing examinations.
DK SP Yathish N said that on February 25, after he left home at Kidebettu, he travelled on railway track and reached Arkula from where he took the help of a two-wheeler rider to reach Mangaluru. From a private bus stand, he boarded a bus to Shivamogga. After reaching Shivamogga, he travelled to Mysuru by train. From Mysuru, he travelled to Kengeri without a ticket.
From Kengeri he went to Nandi Hills and later he worked in a resort for a few days. After earning a bit of money, he travelled back to Mysuru via Kengeri. From Mysuru he boarded Murudeshwar Express and alighted at Udupi on March 8. As he had spent all the money available with him, he wanted to purchase clothes and food at Udupi. When he failed to pay for the purchase, people at the shop questioned him, who later informed the police. The police team later brought him to the city, the SP told mediapersons.
The SP said, “Initially he claimed that he was ‘abducted.’ After police persuaded him by offering him food, he spilled the beans, saying fear of exams forced him to leave the house. He had taken Rs 500 from home before leaving.”
After the boy was traced, he was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and has been placed at a child correction home. As the parents had filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court, he will be produced before the court. Based on the court’s direction, further action will be taken, he explained.
To a query on blood stains in the footwear found on railway track, the SP said that he had an injury on his foot and blood stain was from the injury.
He had reportedly left behind his mobile phone and footwear to ensure that there was no evidence.
The boy studied in science stream in PU and had scored around 80 per cent in SSLC. As the exam was nearing, he was afraid owing to lack of preparations. Under the guidance of Bantwal DSP, seven teams had worked from day one to trace him.
Drones were deployed in surrounding and nearby areas of his house thrice and dog squads were pressed to service thrice. With a large staff, combing was carried out on Saturday. The police had taken up the case seriously from day one, the SP said when asked about allegations of negligence by the police.
The SP said that the student may require counselling, given the circumstances. The police had kept a close watch on his friends, classmates, and family throughout the investigation.