A routine lunch break at a government primary school in Karnataka turned into a frightening episode on Monday after two Class 3 students went missing. The incident took place in Dharwad, where the children
did not return to their classroom after the break.
The missing students were identified as Tanveer Dodmani and Lakshmi Kariyappanavar. When the children did not come back, parents and teachers feared they had been kidnapped. Panic spread quickly among families and local residents.
Police said CCTV cameras in the area showed a man riding away on a motorcycle with the two children. The footage confirmed suspicions and prompted an immediate police response. Local police rushed to the spot and began a search operation.
The case took an unexpected turn when the children were traced in Uttara Kannada. The man who had taken them, later identified as Karim Mestri, met with a motorcycle accident near Dandeli after losing control of the vehicle.
After receiving information about the accident, Dandeli police reached the spot and found the injured man along with the two children. During initial questioning, Karim Mestri told police that he had kidnapped the children and claimed he was planning to take them to the Ulavi Chennabasaveshwara Jatra.
Investigation underway
The children were safely returned to their parents. The accused suffered injuries in the accident and has been admitted to a government hospital for treatment. Police said further investigation into the incident is continuing.
Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said, “Around 3 PM in DharwadCity, near the Suburban Police Station, two children studying in the third grade were taken on a bike by an unknown person. After school ended and the children did not return home, their parents and others began searching for them. CCTV footage revealed that both children were taken by a man, approximately 50 years old. Further verification of the CCTV footage showed that the children were being taken towards Dandeli…”
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