In a remarkable display of efficiency, the Shimla District Police rescued three 11-year-old students from Bishop Cotton School (BCS), one of Asia’s oldest boarding schools, within 24 hours of their disappearance on August 9. The students, identified as Angad from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Hitendra from Mohali (Punjab), and Vidansh from Karnal (Haryana), were safely recovered from a house near Kokoonala on Chenthla Road in Kotkhai, approximately 58 km from Shimla. A 45-year-old suspect, Sumit Sood, has been arrested in connection with the case, which has raised serious questions about student safety at elite institutions like BCS.
Intensive Search Operation
The students, all Class 6 boarders, went missing during a routine Saturday outing to Mall Road on August 9, prompting an immediate response from the Shimla Police. Under the leadership of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, over 150 police personnel scoured more than 300 CCTV cameras across Shimla, covering the school gate, Khalini market, The Ridge, Mall Road, and major city intersections. A critical clue emerged from footage at Khalini Chowk, where the students were seen leaving the school but did not appear at the chowk. Instead, cameras captured a Delhi-registered i10 car, driven by a man in a white shirt, suspected of carrying the children.
Police launched a special operation, tracking the vehicle through cameras along routes to Upper Shimla. Despite challenges, with the car intermittently evading detection, a tip-off by a local resident of Kotkhai named Ronak led to a raid on Sunday afternoon, rescuing the boys unharmed from a dilapidated building in Kotkhai. The suspect allegedly abducted the students at gunpoint, holding them captive overnight. Masks, ropes, and sharp weapons were recovered from the site, indicating the severity of the incident.
Parents and Community Response
Upon receiving news of the disappearance, the students’ families from Kullu, Mohali, and Karnal rushed to Shimla on Saturday night, staying at a private hotel in Khalini. Parents were visibly distraught, seen searching the school premises and nearby areas. One of the students, Hitendra, is a relative of Punjab’s Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, who also arrived in Shimla on Sunday to support the family. The incident revived memories of the 2014 Yug murder case, prompting local business owners in Khalini to assist police with CCTV footage and pray for the children’s safety. Punjab and Haryana Police teams collaborated with Shimla Police, providing crucial support during the investigation.
Safety Concerns at BCS
The abduction has sparked widespread concern about student safety at BCS, founded in 1859 and known for its high fees and prestigious reputation. The school’s weekly “outing day” policy allows students from Classes 6 to 12 to visit markets like Mall Road in groups without adult supervision, while younger students (Classes 4-5) are accompanied by teachers. On August 9, the three students left the school’s forest gate around 12 PM due to a Sunday rehearsal, but failed to return by 5 PM. The suspect, reportedly aware of this routine, lured the boys with an offer of a ride to the market before driving them to Kotkhai.
The school management promptly informed the police and parents, but the incident has raised questions about the lack of supervision for older students. A school meeting was held after the rescue, with another scheduled for Monday to review safety protocols. BCS has announced plans to introduce stricter measures, including adult supervision for all outings, to prevent such incidents in its 170-year history.
Police Efficiency and Investigation
SP Gandhi formed a special investigation team led by Additional SP Navdeep Singh and DSP Amit Thakur, comprising experienced officers who previously solved high-profile cases like those of Sandeep Shah and Shashi Mahatma. The team conducted overnight searches, set up roadblocks toward Kalka, and scoured nearby forests. Technical expertise, including analysis of CCTV footage and a suspicious call traced to a California-based virtual number, aided the swift resolution. A kidnapping case has been registered under Section 137(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at New Shimla Police Station, with further investigations ongoing to determine the motive and any additional suspects.
The safe recovery of Angad, Hitendra, and Vidansh has brought relief to Shimla’s residents and the BCS community. The incident underscores the need for enhanced safety measures at boarding schools while highlighting the Shimla Police’s dedication.
