Ludhiana Boy Found Murdered After Alleged Police Jurisdiction Delays
A tragic case has emerged from Ludhiana where a nine-year-old boy, who vanished while playing outside his home on Thursday, was discovered murdered in a wasteland on Saturday. The incident has sparked serious allegations that police delays and a dispute over jurisdiction may have cost the child his life.
Discovery of the Body and Family's Anguish
The body of the young boy was found on Saturday afternoon in dense bushes within the village of Kasabad, located just 2 kilometers from his residence. Authorities confirmed that his throat had been slit. The boy had gone missing on Thursday afternoon, prompting his family to initiate a frantic search.
His mother, who remains in a state of shock, recounted how the family spent hours combing the neighborhood before seeking official assistance. "We begged the police to search for my son, but they did not listen to us," she stated. "We were made to go from one station to another."
Allegations of Police Negligence and Bureaucratic Hurdles
The family alleges they encountered a bureaucratic nightmare when attempting to report the disappearance. According to their account, they first approached the Basti Jodhewal police station, only to be informed the case fell outside their jurisdiction. They were subsequently turned away by the Meharban police station before finally being directed to the Salem Tabri station.
Frustrated by the perceived lack of progress, the family and local villagers staged a protest outside the Salem Tabri police station on Saturday, blocking the Jalandhar Bypass. Protesters held photographs of the missing child and accused police of inaction.
Police Response and Investigation Details
It was only after this public outcry that police launched a formal search operation. By reviewing local CCTV footage, investigators identified a man walking toward the bushes with the boy following closely behind him. When officers reached the location, they discovered the boy's body.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP-1) Sameer Verma stated that preliminary evidence suggests the boy, identified as Aman, was murdered on the day he disappeared. The CCTV footage shows the boy appearing to follow the man voluntarily, indicating the attacker may have been a known figure or neighbor.
Police suspect the boy may have been subjected to sexual assault before being murdered to silence him, though they await autopsy results to confirm these details. No suspects are currently in custody, but authorities are reviewing additional footage to identify the man captured on video.
Official Denial of Negligence Claims
ADCP Verma has dismissed the family's allegations of negligence as "baseless." He maintained that the family initially conducted their own search and did not reach the first police station until late Thursday night. Verma claimed the Basti Jodhewal police promptly notified the Salem Tabri station, and a formal First Information Report (FIR) was registered as soon as the family arrived at the correct precinct on Friday.
Important Steps for Missing Person Cases
This tragic incident highlights critical procedures families should follow when a child goes missing:
- National Emergency Number: Immediately dial 112, India's emergency response system. All calls are logged centrally, preventing jurisdictional excuses by local stations.
- The 'Zero FIR': Legally, any police station must register a "Zero FIR" for a missing child regardless of where the incident occurred, then transfer the case appropriately.
- Immediate CCTV Preservation: Residents should immediately request neighbors and shops to save CCTV footage, as many systems overwrite data within 24 to 48 hours.
The case continues to develop as police intensify their investigation amid growing public concern over child safety and police responsiveness in Ludhiana.
