In a tragic turn of events, a 15-year-old boy who vanished under mysterious circumstances was discovered deceased, ending a tense four-day search. The teen, initially reported missing on May 1, was last seen outside a local eatery in Greater Noida's Beta 2 neighborhood.

Despite extensive efforts by the Greater Noida police, including 48 hours of continuous searching, the young boy could not be located in time. He was allegedly kidnapped by an unidentified group near the family-owned dhaba in the bustling Beta 2 locality at approximately 2:30 PM on Wednesday.

The situation took a grim conclusion on Sunday when the boy's body was found next to a canal in Bulandshahr district, a neighboring area. Officials confirmed the identity of the deceased as Kunal Sharma, a resident of Mayana village in Rabupura. Kunal, a class 8 drop-out, had been assisting his father at the dhaba, which is situated just where he was last seen.

This incident has cast a shadow over the community, raising concerns about the safety of local children and the effectiveness of emergency response strategies. The police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of Kunal's abduction and death, urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice to his grieving family.

Krishna Kumar Sharma, father of the deceased teenager, recounted the harrowing day his son was taken. "I was at home when he was kidnapped. As soon as I received information, I rushed to the dhaba and tried to search for him. I was informed by my workers that a woman had approached Kunal at the dhaba, and led him to a car, and made off with him. Then, I approached the police," Sharma explained, noting that he was unaware of the nature of the conversation between his son and the woman as none of his workers heard their exchange.

Further detailing the events leading up to the disappearance, Mr. Sharma, who operates 'Shiva da Dhaba', shared a chilling account of the last time he saw his son. A woman appeared at his eatery on May 1, calling out to his son Kunal, who then followed her and did not return. "Around 2.15 pm the woman came and took my son with her. When he did not return for a long time, we called up on his mobile phone but it was switched off," he stated in his police complaint.

These statements have become central to the ongoing police investigation, as authorities attempt to piece together the sequence of events that led to such a devastating outcome.

Krishna Kumar Sharma, still grappling with his son's tragic fate, suspects that the incident may be linked to a recent family dispute. "I suspect that a Delhi-based family might be involved in the incident. My daughter's wedding was scheduled for May 10, but when the groom’s family demanded a dowry of ₹10 lakh, a car, and gold ornaments, I broke off the alliance on April 27," he revealed.

The situation escalated shortly after the cancellation. "They threatened me with dire consequences on April 29, and after two days, my son has been kidnapped. We are also trying to get details from the police, but they did not divulge any information," Sharma added, highlighting his growing frustration and the complex web of events leading up to his son's disappearance.

Munendra Singh, station house officer at Beta 2, provided an update on the police's actions following the allegations. "On the basis of their allegation, we are interrogating the family of the groom. No one was detained yet and the car used in the kidnapping is also untraceable," he stated, indicating the challenges faced in the ongoing investigation.

The authorities took swift action on the night of the disappearance, lodging an FIR under IPC Section 363 for kidnapping against unidentified persons and launching a full-scale investigation. In a curious development, CCTV footage that surfaced on social media showed the boy willingly walking to a car and sitting inside it, suggesting that he was not physically forced into the vehicle. This footage has added another layer of complexity to the case, leaving the community anxious for answers.

In response to the complex and tragic case of the kidnapped teenager, Additional Police Commissioner (law and order) Shivhari Meena outlined the extensive investigative efforts underway. "Multiple police teams have been put on the case, and CCTV footages are also being analysed," he stated, emphasizing the thorough approach being taken.

A new detail has emerged in the investigation, shedding light on the circumstances of the boy's disappearance. "A fact emerged in the case that the boy had left (in a car) with a girl. The people who are under suspicion in the case are being called and questioned by the police. Along with this, other angles in the case are being examined," Meena explained, indicating a potentially broader context to the incident.

Ashok Kumar, additional deputy commissioner of police in Greater Noida, elaborated on the multi-faceted strategy employed to solve the case. "Multiple teams of surveillance, cyber cell, and city police are working to trace the teenager. We are looking at all angles to get close to the suspects," he said, showcasing the extensive resources committed to uncovering the truth.

Further details were provided by an officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, about the moments leading up to the boy's disappearance. "On Wednesday around 2.20pm, a woman approached the dhaba of the victim and asked him to sit in the car. After some discussion, he left dhaba and boarded in a white car, parked outside the dhaba," the officer reported, adding a crucial piece of information, "Kunal’s phone is switched off since then."

These statements reflect the ongoing determination and complexity of the investigation as authorities piece together each fragment of evidence to resolve the unsettling mystery surrounding Kunal Sharma's disappearance.

A CCTV footage capturing the moments before the boy's disappearance has gained significant attention. "A CCTV footage of the incident was also widely shared on social media, of a white car parked on the roadside. A woman is seen walking parallel to Kunal, and boarding the car after him. Later, a man in white clothes standing close to the car also boards it, and they leave," details from the video suggest, though the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by HT.

In response to the distressing events, a formal complaint led to legal action. "On the complaint of Kunal’s father, a case under Section 363 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the unidentified accused at Beta-2 police station on Thursday and further investigations are underway," as authorities press forward to uncover the truth behind the incident.

Adding to the urgency of the situation, Additional Police Commissioner Shivhari Meena shared an update on the grim findings and the investigation's progress. "Today, the boy's body was found along a canal in adjoining Bulandshahr district. Further legal proceedings are being carried. Some more important facts have come to light and the case would be unveiled soon," Mr. Meena stated, indicating that the case is nearing critical developments that could potentially reveal more about the circumstances leading to such a tragic outcome.

Previous Incident Echoes Current Tragedy in Greater Noida

In a hauntingly similar occurrence earlier this year, the Greater Noida community was again shaken by a tragic event involving a young teenager. "In February, a 16-year-old son of a trader in Greater Noida was allegedly killed by his friends and his body was dumped in a canal. The body was recovered after 11 days of search operations," highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence among youths in the area.

The victim, identified as Vaibhav Singhal, "was strangled by two of his friends on January 30 allegedly over a personal dispute involving the girlfriend of one of the accused," details the motive behind this horrific act. This brutal incident had not only saddened the community but also led to significant unrest.

The impact of the incident was strongly felt across the community, "The incident had sparked a major protest by local residents and closure of markets in the area for a couple of days, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also taking stock of the law and order situation." This response underscored the community's demand for justice and a safer environment, reflecting the deep scars such tragedies leave behind.

These repeated incidents raise serious concerns about the safety of young individuals in Greater Noida, prompting both community action and governmental scrutiny to address and hopefully prevent such occurrences in the future.

In April 2021, after the abduction, the three-year-old child Daksh Lohiya was murdered in Dadri. Now, in May 2024, after the abduction, the eighth-grade student and son of a businessman, Kunal Sharma, was murdered in Beeta Do," illustrating a series of tragic events that have deeply impacted the community.

In the most recent case involving Kunal Sharma, new information has surfaced regarding the dangers faced by his family. "Criminals involved in the kidnapping case had fired at the businessman 20 days ago," indicating a premeditated threat. It was further revealed that "the criminal involved in the firing is very close to the victim's family, even in terms of relationship. He is currently in jail." This startling connection suggests a deeper family dispute, with sources hinting that "the entire case could be linked to a 25-acre land dispute. There is suspicion that the accused orchestrated the kidnapping case with his close associates to teach a lesson in a personal rivalry." However, "the police have not yet revealed the details of the case."

This recent kidnapping and murder of Kunal Sharma marks "the second incident in the last three months where a minor child has been kidnapped and murdered." Previously, a similar tragedy occurred three months ago in Bilaspur, Dankaur, where another businessman's son was also kidnapped and murdered, leading to a prolonged closure of the market for 10 days in protest against the violence.

These recurring violent incidents call for urgent attention and action to safeguard children in the region and address the underlying issues contributing to this disturbing pattern.

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