Expelled from school, five runway kids rent a house to start ‘new life’

When the police team reached the house, the boys were painting the wall with a new shade of colour and told us they had no plans to return home. They had all taken up work. A K SINGLA, DCP (north-east)

NEW DELHI: They had elaborate plans to start a ‘ new life’. Expelled from school a week ago, five kids aged between 12 and 14 left their homes and fled to Loni in Ghaziabad, where they had decided to start working. On Thursday, Delhi Police traced them to their new house which they had managed to get on rent. The five had told the landlord that they were labourers in search of work.

DCP (north-east) AK Singla said that the boys had even set up a kitchen, with a cylinder and bought utensils. “When the police team reached the house, the boys were even painting the wall with a new shade of colour and told us that they had no plans to return home. They had all taken up work and had planned to quit studies for good.”

Officer Singla said the boys have been reunited with their parents. The five boys live in the same locality and went to the same school in Karawal Nagar. Three of them had part-time jobs alongside their studies, police siad. When the others learnt about it, they also decided to look for work and quit studies. While one is a Class 9 student, the others are in Class 7.

“They were not good in studies and used to bunk classes regularly. They were expelled from school a week ago. When they told their parents about it, they were scolded,” said DCP Singla.

The five told police they had planned to leave their homes a few days ago. Acting on their plan, police said they started looking for a house and found one in Loni.

“They finalised a house on December 17 and told the landlord that they were labourers working at a tent house. They also found part-time work in a wedding and earned enough money to pool in and bought basic necessities to run the house. On December 20, they fled their house and moved in together,” said Singla.

A parent of one of the runaway children approached police and a case was registered. Police also found that four others were also reported missing on December 20.

“It was surprising that five kids between 12 and 14 years rom same locality went missing, so we formed a team and started an investigation. They were seen with one child who is older than the rest and who knew of their plans. We won the child’s confidence during and he disclosed that all kids have escaped together in order get away from their parents and are living in a rented room in Loni,” Singla added.