Bengaluru: Two siblings aged 13 and 9 who ran away from their home in Bengaluru after being scolded for skipping tuition classes were traced safely in Chitradurga following a coordinated police search and public alerts. The children have since been brought back and reunited with their parents, police said.
The incident began on February 1 around 3 pm, when the brother and sister left their residence in Marathahalli without informing their family. Their disappearance triggered panic at home and led to a missing person complaint being filed at the HAL Police Station.
Police said timely circulation of photographs and information across districts, along with tips from members of the public, helped locate the children nearly 200 km away.
Left home after being scolded
Police said the children, residents of Ashwath Nagar area, were upset after being reprimanded by their parents for refusing to attend school-related coaching and tuition classes. Following the scolding, they quietly left home in the afternoon while family members believed they were nearby.
When the children did not return and could not be contacted, the parents began searching locally and later approached police.
Officers registered a missing complaint and immediately began standard child-tracing procedures, treating the case with urgency given the ages of the children.
Preliminary inquiry suggested there was no prior planning beyond the immediate emotional reaction to the scolding, though the elder sibling carried her Aadhaar card while leaving.
Travelled across districts by bus
Investigation revealed that after leaving home, the siblings boarded government buses and travelled across multiple districts, including Shivamogga and Chitradurga.
Police said the 13-year-old girl used her Aadhaar card to avail free travel under the Karnataka government’s Shakti scheme, which allows women and girl students to travel without fare in state-run buses. Her younger brother reportedly travelled without a ticket alongside her.
During their journey, they changed buses and routes, steadily increasing the distance from Bengaluru. By the time alerts spread across districts, they had travelled close to 200 km.
Officials said such cases show how easily minors can move long distances using public transport when distressed, underlining the need for quick reporting and rapid response.
Police alert network activated
HAL Police Station alerted police units across Karnataka soon after registering the complaint. Missing alerts with photographs and identifying details were circulated through internal police networks and shared via official social media channels.
Transport hubs and bus stands were specifically flagged for watch, given the likelihood that the children might use public buses.
Police said the widespread digital circulation played a key role in generating leads. Members of the public who saw the alerts recognised the children and contacted authorities after spotting them in Chitradurga district.
Local police there verified the information on the ground and secured the children safely.
Safely reunited with parents
After confirmation, the children were taken into protective care by local police and later transported back to the city. They were produced at HAL Police Station, where formal procedures were completed before handing them over to their parents.
Officials said both children were physically safe and did not report any harm during their time away from home. As per protocol in cases involving minors, police counselled the children and advised the parents on handling emotional stress and communication.
Child welfare guidelines were followed to ensure the children’s well-being before reunification.
Police stress early reporting in missing cases
Police reiterated that in cases involving missing children, immediate reporting greatly improves chances of quick tracing. Early alerts enable faster circulation of information across transport networks and district police units.
Officers also advised parents to maintain open communication with children regarding academic pressure and extracurricular expectations. Sudden emotional reactions, especially among young adolescents, can sometimes lead to impulsive decisions like running away.
Authorities said coordination between police and the public was crucial in this case. The quick tip-off from citizens who recognised the children directly contributed to their safe recovery.
The case has now been closed after documentation and counselling, with police confirming that no criminal angle was found in the incident.