Pune, 3rd December 2024: A three-year-old boy who went missing from the Wagholi area was successfully reunited with his family within four hours, thanks to the prompt efforts of the Pune police.

The incident occurred near Baif Road, where the boy was spotted by a local resident, Manisha Chetan Sonar. Sonar noticed the unattended child near Nikhar Ladies Shop and attempted to locate his family but was unsuccessful.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, she promptly informed the Crime Branch's Unit Six officers, Pratiksha Pansare and Sachin Pawar. The officers immediately relayed the information to Senior Police Inspector Wahid Pathan.

The police swiftly launched a citywide search under Operation Muskaan, a campaign aimed at locating missing children and women.

The boy’s photo was circulated on social media, and officers conducted thorough searches in various areas, including Domkhel Road, Biyaf Road, and Dattavihar Colony. They also checked labor settlements nearby.

During the operation, the police received a report about a missing child from Akshay Sanskruti Society. A team reached the society and shared the boy’s photo with the residents.

The boy’s mother recognized him instantly and was overwhelmed with relief upon learning he was safe. The family expressed heartfelt gratitude to the police for their swift and effective action.

The operation involved Senior Police Inspector Wahid Pathan, Assistant Police Inspector Madan Kamble, and Sub-Inspectors Ramkrishna Dalvi, Ramesh Memane, Balasaheb Sakte, Suhas Tambekar, Kanifnath Karkhele, and Kirti Mandle.