Surat: Sachin GIDC police launched a massive search for a 12-year-old boy who left home fearing that his parents would scold him after his school learnt that he had been smoking cigarettes. The boy was traced near Sachin railway station on Thursday afternoon, two days after he left home.According to police, the boy was caught smoking a cigarette, following which someone informed his school. The school subsequently informed his parents. Fearing that he would be reprimanded, the boy left home around 7pm on Tuesday.His parents approached Sachin GIDC police on Wednesday afternoon after several hours had passed without any information about his whereabouts. Taking the matter seriously, police formed five teams and launched a search.Police Inspector K A Gohil said the delay in reporting the boy missing made the search more challenging. Police teams checked 120 CCTV cameras to trace his movements and spoke to around 300 people to gather information about his whereabouts.Police also printed large posters carrying the boy’s photograph and put them up on auto-rickshaws and at various locations. They sought help from shopkeepers, industrial units, social workers and community leaders to circulate the posters and trace the boy.The boy was eventually located near Sachin railway station based on information gathered through human intelligence. Police said he had spent two nights sleeping on a footpath near the station and had managed to get free food from someone.He was handed over to his family. Police also advised his parents against scolding him over the incident and urged them to handle the matter sensitively.
