A four-year-old boy named Keshav, a resident of Pannu Vihar in Jalandhar and the son of a labourer, was abducted on Thursday, September 17, while playing with friends in his own locality, according to reports by local news. The incident occurred around 2 pm, when two men riding a scooter took the child away from an area falling under the Basti Bawa Khel police station. CCTV footage showing the masked men on the scooter with the boy was later circulated widely. According to ACP (West) Aatish Bhatia, as reported by Amar Ujala, police received information about the missing child around 2 pm and immediately began investigating. A preliminary inquiry confirmed that two individuals riding an Activa scooter had taken the child, following which a case was registered at the Basti Bawa Khel police station and search teams were formed. Police said they closely examined CCTV footage from cameras across the area and intensified the search based on available leads.
Recovered safely within 10 hours, mother moved to tears
10 Sept 2026 | 12:19
What’s one thing you swore you’l never do as a parent now you find yourself doing?
According to Amar Ujala’s report, published on September 18, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police recovered the child safely within 10 hours of the initial complaint, following what the report described as intense effort by the investigating teams. The report noted that the child’s mother was moved to tears as she took her son back into her arms. The Tribune’s report adds further detail on how the recovery unfolded. Former MLA Sheetal Angural, who said he and his team helped widely circulate the child’s picture on social media, stated that the accused appeared to panic once the case gained visibility online. He said that later the same evening, in the dark, the men left the child near a bus stand, telling him his mother was waiting for him there. The child was then spotted by commuters, who alerted the police, leading to his safe recovery.Police credited the swift outcome to a combination of factors, cooperation from the child’s family, members of the public, people who shared information on social media, and coordinated police action. After completing the necessary legal procedures, the child was formally handed over to his family. The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police publicly thanked the citizens, family members, social media users, and news outlets who assisted in the search. As for the motive, ADCP-2 Madhvi Sharma had earlier stated that since the accused remained at large, the exact motive behind the abduction was not yet clear, adding that it did not appear to be a case of ransom, given that the boy’s father works as a labourer. Neither report confirms whether the accused have since been arrested.
Why incidents like this call for a safety conversation at home
Cases like this one, however they end, tend to shake parents well beyond the family directly involved. Child safety experts consistently point out that even very young children can be taught simple, age-appropriate safety habits without instilling excessive fear. One widely recommended approach is moving away from the older, blanket “stranger danger” idea, since children often struggle to identify who counts as a stranger when they see parents interacting with shopkeepers, delivery staff, or neighbours regularly. Instead, experts suggest teaching children to recognise specific unsafe situations and behaviours, rather than fearing all unfamiliar faces.Beyond these home-based habits, experts also recommend a few specific skills children should practise, not just hear about once. Kids should be taught to always play in pairs or groups rather than wandering off alone, since there is genuine safety in numbers. They should also be able to confidently recite their full name, their parents’ phone number, and their home address so they can share this information with a trusted adult if they ever get separated from family in a crowd or public place. Experts also suggest teaching children to recognise specific suspicious behaviours rather than specific people, such as an adult asking a child for help finding a lost pet, offering unprompted gifts or treats, or asking them to keep a secret from their parents, since these are common tactics used to lower a child’s guard. Finally, children should be taught what to do in the moment if they feel unsafe: to loudly call out for help, drop whatever they are holding, and run toward a public, fixed location such as a shop or a security desk rather than simply following the nearest unfamiliar adult. Rehearsing these responses occasionally, in a calm and matter of fact way rather than a frightening one, helps children remember them under real pressure.
Practical safety habits experts recommend for young children
Parenting and child safety experts commonly recommend a few clear, practical habits for young children. Children should be taught never to go anywhere with anyone, take anything from anyone, or get into a vehicle with someone, even if that person claims a parent sent them or is waiting nearby, without direct confirmation from a parent or trusted guardian first. Families are also encouraged to set up a simple, memorable family code word known only to parents and trusted carers, so a child can verify whether someone claiming to be sent by a parent is telling the truth. Children should also be taught to identify safe adults to approach if they ever feel lost or unsafe in public, such as a police officer, a security guard, or a shopkeeper, rather than simply trusting any nearby adult.Equally important, experts stress that young children should ideally not be left to play entirely unsupervised in open or semi-public spaces, and that even brief lapses in adult supervision can be enough for such incidents to occur. Building an open, non-judgemental habit of daily conversation with children so they feel comfortable sharing anything that made them uncomfortable is also considered one of the most effective long-term protections parents can offer.
A reminder for every household
The safe return of the child in Jalandhar, achieved within 10 hours through coordinated police action and public cooperation, is a relief, but the incident itself is a sober reminder for parents everywhere. Teaching children simple, clear safety habits, while keeping the conversation calm and age-appropriate rather than frightening, remains one of the most practical steps families can take to reduce such risks.
