Patna: A 17-year-old boy has gone missing in Patna after leaving home to worship at a temple, raising concerns over the rising number of incidents involving children in the city.
The missing boy has been identified as Abhinav Kumar, son of Manoj Kumar, a clerk at AN College. The family, who live in a rented house on Canal Road in Jakkanpur, reported him missing after he failed to return home.
Abhinav left for the temple at 10.30am on September 5, carrying worship materials. CCTV footage shows him entering the temple, and several locals confirmed that he offered prayers there. However, there has been no sighting of him leaving the premises.
His mother, Satya Devi, has appealed for urgent action from the police. “My child has not been found. He had no problems at home and was of a calm nature. I just want my son back,” she said.
Police have registered a case and are scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding area. It has been more than 24 hours since the disappearance, but no further leads have emerged.
The case has intensified concerns about child safety in Patna. In recent months, several disturbing incidents have been reported, including:
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On August 15, the bodies of siblings aged 5 and 7 were recovered from a parked car in Indrapuri, with the cause of death still unclear.
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On August 27, 5th-grade student Zoya Parveen died after being found with burn injuries in her school bathroom.
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On August 16, in Sohagi village, a 5-year-old boy was gravely injured after being assaulted by a neighbour.
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On July 31, two siblings aged 10 and 15 were murdered in Janipur, with the accused attempting to disguise the crime as an accident.
These cases have sparked growing alarm among residents, who are demanding stronger child protection measures and swifter police action.
