Bettiah: Agitated local people on Tuesday blocked NH-727 and protested against the police administration over the failure to trace 11-year-old Gautam Kumar, who has been missing for three days from Ramdham Mandir locality under Ward No. 26 of Bagaha Nagar Parishad in West Champaran district. The protesters demanded the child’s immediate recovery and a thorough probe into his disappearance.Gautam’s father, Munna Shah, said his son had been missing since Sunday. The family searched the surrounding areas but could not trace him. Shah said he suspected that his son might have been abducted, citing an old dispute. He alleged that a local resident, Akash Kumar, had called the boy to his rooftop on Sunday on the pretext of offering him biscuits, after which Gautam went missing. Shah said the man was in police custody, but the child’s whereabouts remained unknown.After being informed about the blockade, senior police officials reached the spot and assured the protesters that all possible angles were being investigated. The blockade was subsequently lifted.Bagaha SDPO Nihar Bhushan said Gautam lives near Ramdham Mandir with his family and studies in Class III. His father is a fish vendor. According to the SDPO, CCTV footage showed Gautam riding a bicycle with another child until 9.38am on Sunday. Police are examining the footage and other leads to establish his movements after that.“The family has expressed suspicion against certain individuals, which is also being verified. A slipper belonging to the child has been recovered near the riverbank, so this angle is also being taken seriously. An SDRF team has been summoned to search the river. Police are investigating all possible angles and making efforts to locate the child,” the SDPO said.Police said raids, technical surveillance and searches at possible locations were continuing. The child’s disappearance has left his family anxious, while local residents have demanded his safe and early recovery.
