Family made every bid to trace missing son Karnit

Six-year-old Karnit Shah’s family knew the police had launched a massive search operation to rescue their son, but in the heart of hearts they also knew that it wasn’t enough.

Six-year-old Karnit Shah’s family knew the police had launched a massive search operation to rescue their son, but in the heart of hearts they also knew that it wasn’t enough.

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Karnit’s family did everything possible trace him, from starting an online community for Karnit on a social networking site, announcing a cash reward to sticking posters in every nook and corner of the city, but all in vain.

They perhaps didn’t know that people would approach them just for fun sake or for making a few quick bucks, but seldom for providing information.

“I had received five calls from various parts of Mumbai and some from outside the city claiming that my son was with them. Every time, I received a call, I became hopeful that I would get back my son soon. When I would ask the caller to allow me to speak to Karnit, they would make flimsy excuses and just hang up,” said Anand, Karnit’s father.

Anand had received a call from a man, who identified himself as a priest, informing him that his son was somewhere in a building located in the same society and if Anand searched for him at the right places, he would surely find him. “Trusting that caller, Anand collected electricity bills from his society and posing as a deliverymen, went to each and every house, but didn’t find Karnit anywhere. They realised that it was a hoax call and gave up,” said a police officer from Kandivali police station, on condition of anonymity, adding that such calls were a nuisance.