Shimla News : Police Trace Missing Bishop Cotton School Students Within 24 Hours; One Suspect Arrested

Shimla Police have successfully traced and recovered three missing students of Bishop Cotton School within 24 hours of their disappearance, bringing a major sense of relief to parents, school authorities, and the local community. The three Class VI students – identified as Hitendra from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, Vidansh from Karnal in Haryana, and Angad from Mohali in Punjab – were found safe in the Chaithla area of Kotkhai on Sunday afternoon. Police have also arrested one person accused of issuing threats to the father of one of the boys, and an investigation into the circumstances of the disappearance is currently underway.

The incident unfolded on Saturday during the school’s scheduled outing day, when students are permitted to leave campus for a limited period under supervision protocols. According to official records, the three boys were issued an out-pass at 12:09 p.m. to visit Shimla’s popular Mall Road area. They were required to return to their hostel by 5:00 p.m., in line with school policy. When they failed to return at the stipulated time, the school administration immediately contacted the New Shimla Police Station to report the matter. Given the nature of the case and the age of the students, police promptly registered a case of kidnapping under Section 137B of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unknown persons.

Acting without delay, the Shimla Police launched an intensive search operation across key points in the city and surrounding areas. Multiple teams were deployed to cover high-traffic locations such as Mall Road, the Inter-State Bus Terminal, the railway station, and other crowded public places. Investigators simultaneously examined CCTV footage from various locations in and around Shimla. The review of surveillance video provided critical leads on the movement of the boys and helped officers narrow down the search zone.

The operation gained momentum when police traced indications suggesting the children had travelled beyond Shimla city limits. Expanding the search radius, a police team reached the Chaithla locality of Kotkhai, approximately 55 kilometres from the city. There, the three students were located and taken into protective custody. Officers ensured their immediate safe transport back to Shimla, where the Superintendent of Police and the Additional Superintendent of Police met the children personally to confirm their physical and emotional well-being. The authorities have assured the parents that the boys are unharmed and are now back under appropriate care and supervision.

During the course of the investigation, police also detained a suspect believed to have issued a threatening message to the father of one of the children while the search was ongoing. The suspect is currently under interrogation to establish his possible involvement in the incident and to determine whether there was any premeditated attempt to lure or abduct the students. Officials have not ruled out the involvement of additional persons and are closely examining the timeline of events as well as any communication records relevant to the case.

Senior police officials have praised the swift coordination between the various investigation teams and the effective use of technology in tracing the students in record time. In a brief statement, the Superintendent of Police highlighted that the department treated the matter with the highest urgency due to the vulnerability of minors and the potential risk to their safety. The SP added that the successful recovery within a 24-hour window demonstrated the department’s readiness and efficiency in handling sensitive missing persons cases.

Bishop Cotton School has expressed its appreciation to the police for their prompt intervention and dedication. The school, which has a long history of boarding education and maintains strict protocols for student outings, confirmed that it will be reviewing its safety procedures in consultation with the authorities to ensure additional preventive measures. The administration reiterated that student safety remains its topmost priority and that parents have been kept fully informed throughout the incident.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the police are mapping the movements of the students from the time they left the school premises until they were found in Kotkhai. This includes analysing transport routes, potential accomplices, and any digital or telecommunication activity that could shed light on how and why the boys ended up far from the city. The arrested individual is expected to be produced before a magistrate in the coming days, while the children will be offered counselling support to help them process the experience.

Bishop Cotton School, established in 1859, is regarded as one of the most prestigious residential schools in Asia, with a strong reputation for discipline and student welfare. Incidents of this nature are extremely rare on its campus, making this case particularly notable for the speed and effectiveness with which the police responded. Community members and parents alike have welcomed the positive outcome and commended the authorities for their decisive action in ensuring the safety of the children. The case is expected to remain under active investigation until all facts are established, and accountability is determined.