Jammu — The teenage son of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vijay Sharma was traced to Delhi late on Tuesday, hours after he went missing from his home in Hiranagar in Kathua district, police sources said on Wednesday.
Search operation across border districts
The boy, identified as Aditya, a student of a private school in Hiranagar, left home to play badminton and did not return, prompting the family to inform local police, officials said. A search was launched that covered areas from Hira Nagar to Kathua and Jammu, with teams scanning CCTV footage from bus stands and railway stations.
According to police sources, Aditya was last seen boarding a bus at about 5 pm on Tuesday. A police team later questioned a bus driver and conductor at the Kathua bus stand late that night as part of the efforts to trace his movement.
- Missing from: Hiranagar, Kathua district
- Last seen: Boarding a bus, around 5 pm on Tuesday
- Traced to: Sister's residence in Delhi
- Immediate action: CCTV review at bus stands and railway stations; questioning of bus staff
Family relieved, reasons still unclear
Late on Tuesday, family members received information that the boy had reached his sister's place in Delhi safely. A senior police officer said,
"Yes he has been traced. Reason why he went to Delhi is not clear."
Police sources indicated that Aditya may have gone to Delhi to stay with his sister as he was reportedly feeling uneasy at home, but they emphasised that the exact motive for his departure had not been established. Following the confirmation, MLA Vijay Sharma left for Delhi on Wednesday morning to meet his son, sources said.
Police response and public reassurance
While local law-enforcement acted quickly to canvass transit points and review CCTV footage spanning multiple jurisdictions, the Jammu and Kathua police had not issued an official statement by Wednesday afternoon, according to sources. Inquiry teams had questioned bus personnel at Kathua bus stand late on Tuesday as part of standard procedure in missing-person cases where movement across districts is suspected.
The swift tracing of the teenager underscores the role played by routine surveillance and inter-district coordination in locating missing minors. It also highlights recurrent concerns among families about adolescent distress and the need for timely community and parental support. No criminal allegations have been reported in connection with the incident.
Context and consequences for local residents
Incidents involving missing children often strain local policing resources and trigger broader community anxiety, particularly when a family is politically prominent. Residents in Hiranagar and adjoining areas said such episodes renew calls for heightened vigilance at transport hubs and more robust mechanisms to track unaccompanied minors travelling between Jammu and Delhi.
Officials in Kathua and Jammu routinely advise families to notify police promptly in disappearance cases and to provide details such as recent photographs, clothing description, and likely destinations. In this case, the family's prompt alert and subsequent CCTV checks played a part in the quick resolution, according to officers involved in the search.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police were yet to issue an official release detailing the boy's whereabouts, the nature of inquiries conducted in Delhi, or whether any follow-up welfare checks had been carried out. The family has sought privacy as they make arrangements for the MLA to meet his son in Delhi.
| Timeline | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuesday afternoon | Aditya leaves home in Hiranagar to play badminton; does not return |
| ~5 pm | Last seen boarding a bus, according to police sources |
| Late Tuesday night | Police question bus driver and conductor at Kathua bus stand; CCTV reviewed |
| Late Tuesday | Family informed Aditya reached sister's place in Delhi |
| Wednesday morning | MLA Vijay Sharma departs for Delhi to meet his son |
Local authorities and child-welfare agencies often urge families and communities to engage counsellors and local leaders when minors display signs of distress. The present case concluded without reported harm, but officials said they would continue enquiries to clarify circumstances and ensure the boy's wellbeing.
