CID traces two students nearly eight months after they went missing from Vidyaranyapura; police prepare to produce them before court
Bengaluru: A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials has traced two college students who had been missing for nearly eight months from Bengaluru. Police said the students are being prepared to be produced before the court.
The two students, who were studying in the second year of Pre-University Course (PUC), went missing from Vidyaranyapura on January 31. Following complaints from their parents, a missing-person case was registered at the Vidyaranyapura Police Station.
Despite extensive efforts, the students could not initially be traced. Subsequently, the family of one of the students approached the Karnataka High Court seeking intervention in the case.
High Court Transfers Case to CID
Around five to six months after the students went missing, the High Court handed over the investigation to the CID and directed the agency to take further action.
The CID team then took charge of the investigation and had been searching for the two students for around three months.
During the investigation, officials received information suggesting that the students had visited Male Mahadeshwara Hills. Investigators also came across a potential lead involving a photograph.
According to the information gathered during the investigation, the two students had reportedly been playing with a child at the hill area when the child’s mother took a selfie with them. However, despite examining the photograph and other available information, investigators were unable to establish their whereabouts at that stage.
Aadhaar-Based SIM Purchase Provided Crucial Lead
A major breakthrough reportedly came when one of the students recently used her Aadhaar details to purchase a new SIM card.
The service provider’s records alerted CID officials to the use of the Aadhaar number. Acting on the information, investigators traced the location and eventually found both students.
One Student Reportedly Married a Man She Met in the Hills
According to information gathered during the investigation, one of the students had reportedly met a young man from Kanakapura taluk in Bengaluru South district while she was at Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
The two students subsequently went with the man.
When the man’s family reportedly questioned him about the two girls, he allegedly told them that they were sisters and had no one else, including their parents.
Later, one of the students reportedly married the same man. Following the marriage, the couple began living together, while the other student also stayed with them.
Police said the investigation revealed that the married student is currently pregnant.
Investigation Continues
The tracing of the two students after nearly eight months has brought a significant development in the case. Police are now investigating where the students stayed during the period they were missing and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Investigators are also examining the sequence of events from the time the students left Vidyaranyapura until they were traced by the CID.
Police are preparing to produce the two students before the court, following which further details regarding the case are expected to emerge.
