15-year-old Delhi boy missing for nearly 21 months traced in Ghaziabad

A 15-year-old boy who allegedly left his Delhi home following a dispute with his parents over his studies was traced in Ghaziabad after nearly 21 months, police said on Sunday.

The boy, a resident of Todapur, had gone missing on December 25, 2024, after his parents insisted that he attend school regularly and focus on his studies, while he was allegedly reluctant to do so, a senior police officer said.

A kidnapping case was subsequently registered at Rajinder Nagar police station.

"He deliberately stayed away from his family and police and worked at hotels and shops to sustain himself during the period," the officer said.

Following his disappearance, police teams checked around 153 CCTV cameras, 24 shelter homes and 27 orphanages across Delhi-NCR, besides several religious places, but initially could not trace him.

The investigation later received a breakthrough after local sources informed police that the boy had recently been spotted in Ghaziabad.

A police team went to the area and showed his photographs to local residents before tracing him on September 25, the officer said.

The boy was brought to Rajinder Nagar police station, where his mother identified him, following which he was handed over to the investigating officer, police said.