A Boy's Craving
In a small town in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, a 12-year-old student from the 7th grade found himself captivated by the allure of street-side momos. The tantalizing
offer from two local vendors – a lifetime supply of these popular dumplings – proved irresistible to the young boy. Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly innocent craving would lead to an unfathomable exchange. The vendors, recognizing the boy's particular fondness for their food, initially appeased him with free samples, gradually building a rapport. This trust, however, was systematically leveraged, escalating from complimentary snacks to larger enticements, including small sums of money and the ultimate persuasive tactic: the promise of boundless momos for life. The boy, blinded by his desire for endless treats, began to fall prey to their manipulation, unaware of the immense value of the items he was being asked to procure.
The Vanishing Treasure
The unbelievable trade materialized when the boy, under the vendors' influence, began secretly bringing gold jewellery and other precious ornaments from his family's home. These were not mere trinkets but family heirlooms, including gold necklaces, rings, bangles, mangalsutras, nose pins, earrings, and even silver toe rings. The total value of these stolen items amounted to a staggering Rs 85 lakh. The gravity of the situation only came to light when the boy's mother and aunt discovered the family cupboard inexplicably empty. The subsequent questioning led to the child's confession, revealing his shocking trade: valuable family wealth exchanged for the promise of 'unlimited free food for a lifetime'. This astonishing revelation marked the beginning of a frantic search for both the missing valuables and the two street vendors.
Police Investigation Begins
Following the shocking discovery and the confession, the boy's father, a temple priest, lodged a formal complaint with the police on February 1, 2026. The complaint detailed not only the illicit exchange of jewellery for momos but also alleged that the vendors had threatened the child to ensure his silence about the dealings. The Deoria police, under SHO Devendra Kumar Singh, immediately launched a search operation for the two absconding vendors. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to trace the trail of the Rs 85 lakh worth of jewellery that has disappeared. The investigation is also exploring the possibility of other individuals being involved, with several suspects currently being questioned. Legal action is anticipated to follow as the authorities work to recover the stolen valuables and apprehend the culprits responsible for this extraordinary scam.
