Locals protest, blame cops after missing 1-yr-old’s body found in Loni

Parents and locals alleged police laxity in locating the child, who had been missing since August 15

Hundreds of residents of Rajiv Garden in Loni blocked the Delhi-Saharanpur Road for over an hour in protest after the body of one-and-half year old boy was found at the railway tracks near Loni railway station on Monday. The child had gone missing on August 15.

Locals gather in protest after the body of a one-year-old was found at the railway tracks near Loni railway station on Monday. (HT Photo)

The parents and locals alleged police laxity in locating the child, Mohit, and also demanded the arrest of a teenager from Roop Nagar who had earlier met his family and said that the child would be rescued if they paid him Rs. 30,000.

“After the family approached us earlier, we had picked up the teenager and questioned him. However, he said he did not know anything about the child and was just trying to get some money from his parents,” said Anil Kumar Yadav, circle officer (CO), Loni. “Our teams are searching for him and also probing other angles in the case like involvement of some tantric or maybe some childless person may have picked up the boy and murdered him later out of fear that he might get caught,” he added.

The body of the child has been sent for an autopsy.

“All the procedures, including publishing of photographs, public announcements and even reward of Rs. 5,000 were announced by police to trace the child. The family did not allege any enmity with anyone and also did not receive any ransom call after the boy went missing. Our teams are probing the matter,” the CO added.