Shimla, Aug 10: Shimla police have rescued three 11-year-old students from Bishop Cotton School who went missing during a routine outing on August 9. The students were found locked inside a room in Kotkhai tehsil, and the accused kidnapper, Sumit Sood, 45, from Kokunala village, has been arrested, authorities said.
The missing children, all Class VI students hailing from Mohali, Karnal, and Kullu, were reported missing after the outing. Promptly responding to the incident, the school principal filed a complaint, leading to the registration of a kidnapping case under Section 137 (B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at New Shimla Police Station.
Police launched an extensive search operation, reviewing CCTV footage and tracking leads that ultimately pointed to Kokunala village. There, the students were discovered locked in a room within a multi-storey building owned by the accused.
Shimla Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi stated that the students have been safely brought back to Shimla. Investigations are ongoing, focusing on CCTV footage, phone records, and a call traced to a virtual number based in California.
A suspicious vehicle provided a critical lead in locating the accused and the students. The vehicle involved in the case has been seized by police.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur praised the police for their swift and effective response to the incident.
