Three children have gone missing from the Vaidik Sadhan Ashram Tapovan Gurukul in Raipur, Dehradun. The incident occurred on 13 June, just ten days after the children were brought from a children’s home in Chandigarh for admission. Based on a complaint by the Gurukul’s principal, Ravindra Arya, an FIR has been registered at Raipur Police Station.
According to Arya, Nitin Koḍa had brought Suraj (13), Vikas (13), and Shivam (10) from Mohali’s Udham Singh Colony on 3 June, stating that none of them had attended school before and needed to begin their education afresh. Arya had informed Koḍa that the Gurukul would remain closed for summer vacation from 11 to 22 June and suggested bringing the children after the break. However, Koḍa left the children at the Gurukul and returned to Chandigarh.
As the vacation approached, the children began insisting on returning home. When Gurukul caretaker Kiran Kumar Arya contacted Koḍa to speak with them, he reportedly refused to engage. The children were eventually convinced to stay, but on the morning of 13 June, they were found missing. A search by the staff in surrounding areas was unsuccessful.
Police have formed three teams to locate the children and are coordinating with the Chandigarh children’s home and their families. SHO Raipur Pradeep Negi confirmed that investigations are underway on all possible fronts.
