Two minor tribal boys, who went missing last month, have been recovered and reunited with their families in Kathua district by police.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shobit Saxena said the boys, Deen Mohammad (14) and Rehmat Ali (11), were reported missing by their families after they had gone to graze cattle near a goat farm in Bhamberwah in Billawar area of Kathua on February 28.
“After hectic efforts, the police found the missing boys and reunited them with their families,” he told reporters in Kathua.
The SSP said the police registered an FIR soon after the families of the boys reported the matter on March 9 and circulated lookout posters in different languages.
He said during the search operation, interstate routes were also monitored, and contractors in both Kashmir and Jammu were informed about the missing boys.
“After an extensive search, both minors were found and safely handed over to their families,” he said.
“The children have not been with their families for the past two weeks and are a little nervous. We will come to know all the details gradually and are also planning to engage counselors for them,” Saxena said, adding all the aspects have been kept open to investigate the case properly.
The incident has drawn additional attention as security concerns in the region mount. The matter was raised in the assembly after the bodies of three civilians—Yogesh Singh, 32, Darshan Singh, 40, and Varun Singh, 15—were discovered in Ishu Nallah on March 8, two days after they went missing while travelling to a wedding.