Four Class 9 students went missing from a boarding home under Maharanipeta police station limits in Visakhapatnam on Monday. The school administration realised that the students were missing and contacted the students' parents who also said that their children did not come home. Later, the students' whereabouts came to light after the school administration noticed it through CCTV footage at the hostel.
The missing students were identified as Kiran Kumar, Karthik, Charan Teja, and Raghu. All of them are students at St. Ann’s High School. A formal missing person complaint was subsequently lodged with the Maharanipeta police.
According to the preliminary investigations, the students had watched a movie on Sunday. One of the boys, Kiran Kumar, reportedly brought Rs 12,000 with him to the hostel of which Rs 8,000 was used to pay fees, reported The New Indian Express. The group is believed to have fled with the remaining amount.
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Police reviewed CCTV footage from the hostel, as well as nearby railway stations and bus stands, to track the students' movements. Authorities also appealed to the public for information that could assist in locating the boys.
A special police team was formed to expedite the search. On Tuesday night, the students were located in Vijayawada. Arrangements are being made to bring them safely back to Visakhapatnam, as per a report on Times of India.
However, it is also alleged that the students were inspired by the movie Lucky Baskhar. According to certain reports, the boys might have decided to flee the hostel in a bid to earn money. It is also alleged that they told their classmates that they would return home after earning money.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and monitoring measures at boarding homes.