 |
| Image is AI generate |
By Sagaya Fernando | January 14, 2026
Dharwad, Karnataka, INDIA: What began as a routine lunch break at a government primary school in Dharwad turned into a terrifying ordeal on January 12, when two Class 3 students went missing, triggering panic among parents and an intensive police search. The incident ended dramatically hours later—after a roadside accident led police to the missing children nearly 100 km away.
The incident occurred at the Government Model Kannada Primary School in Kamalapur, Dharwad. The two students, Tanveer Ahmed Doddamani and Lakshmi Manjunath Kareppanavar, failed to return to their classrooms after the lunch break. Initially, teachers believed the children might have stayed back on the school premises or gone to a nearby house. However, as time passed and searches yielded no results, concern quickly escalated.
Parents were alerted and rushed to the school. With no trace of the children in the surrounding area, fears of abduction took hold.
CCTV Footage Sparks Alarm
A review of CCTV footage from nearby locations confirmed those fears. According to police, the footage showed an unidentified man riding away on a motorcycle with the two children. The visuals spread rapidly, causing alarm in the locality and prompting police to launch a large-scale search operation.
Multiple police teams were deployed across Dharwad and neighbouring districts, while local residents joined efforts to track the motorcycle and gather information.
Accident Leads to Rescue
The case took an unexpected turn later in the day when police received information about a motorcycle accident near Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district. A team rushed to the spot and made a shocking discovery—the two missing children were present at the accident site along with the injured rider.
The accused was identified as Abdul Karim Mestri (50), a resident of Asminagar. Police said he lost control of his motorcycle, causing it to skid. During preliminary questioning, Mestri allegedly told investigators that he had taken the children, claiming he intended to take them to the Ulavi Chennabasaveshwara Jatra.
Ironically, the accident—which could have had serious consequences—ended up saving the children. Both were found unharmed and were safely reunited with their parents, bringing immense relief after hours of fear and uncertainty.
Investigation Underway
The accused sustained head and hand injuries and has been admitted to a government hospital in Joida. Police have registered a case and said further investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances under which the children were taken and whether any additional criminal intent was involved.
Comments
Post a Comment