Missing 17-year-old Digant traced in Udupi

Missing 17-year-old Digant found in Udupi after ten days, police to question him before reuniting with parents.

Over ten days since 17-year-old PU student Digant was reported missing from his house in Farangipet, near Mangaluru, the police have traced him in Udupi on Saturday.

A team of Dakshina Kannada police brought Digant from Udupi to Farangipet. Officials said police will question the boy before handing him over to his parents.

The 17-year-old Digant, a student of a PU College in Mangaluru, went to his college to get hall ticket. After returning home, the boy left the house by stating his family members that he will go to nearby temple. Since then he was reported to be missing.

The police traced his mobile phone near a railway track. As special team of Dakshina Kannada police was searching for whereabouts about the boy, concerns were expressed over his life, who was active in local Bhajana Mandir programmes. While some alleged that boy might have been kidnapped by persons associated with narcotic drugs, there were also suspicion of his kidnap by some transgender groups. Farangipet residents carried out protest recently.

The issue was raised by Speaker and Mangaluru MLA U.T. Khader during the question hour in Legislative Assembly on March 5. Speaking on behalf of Home Minister G. Pamameshwara, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Madhu Bangarappa said of efforts made by police in tracing the boy.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Amith Singh said police worked tirelessly to trace Digant in Udupi on Saturday after noon. “We will question him to know more about the incident,” Mr. Singh said.

Unconfirmed reports said Digant called his mother with the mobile phone of a supermarket employee saying he was in that particular supermarket in Udupi. “I didn’t run away; someone forcibly took me away. I’ll narrate everything once I meet you,” Digant reportedly told the mother.