Daijiworld Media Network - Ujjain
Ujjain, Jul 14: A 15-year-old student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya was found dead in a pond near the school campus in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district on Tuesday, while authorities continued an intensive search for another student who disappeared with him from the hostel.
The deceased, identified as Pragyan Vimal, was a Class 10 student. His companion, Roshan Baretha (14), a Class 9 student, remained untraceable till Tuesday afternoon, prompting an extensive search operation involving multiple agencies.
According to police, the two boys went missing from the residential school's hostel in the Ghattia police station limits late on Monday night. Their absence came to light during the hostel's night attendance, following which the school administration alerted the police.
A search operation was immediately launched, with police examining CCTV footage and questioning students and staff. However, the boys could not be located overnight.
Ghattia police station in-charge Karan Khowal said investigators are reviewing all available evidence and exploring every possible angle to determine what led to the students' disappearance.
Early on Tuesday morning, around 6 a.m., local villagers informed the police after noticing a body floating in a water-filled agricultural pond situated near the school's boundary. With assistance from local residents, the body was recovered and later identified as Pragyan Vimal.
The body has been sent to the district hospital for a post-mortem examination, and police said the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the forensic report is received.
Meanwhile, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police personnel and divers continued combing the pond and nearby areas in search of Roshan Baretha.
Police said further action would depend on the findings of the investigation and the post-mortem report. Officials also stated that if any negligence by the school administration or hostel management is established, appropriate legal action will be initiated.
The incident has sparked concerns over safety measures at the fully residential institution, with the families of the students and local residents questioning the effectiveness of hostel supervision and night-time security arrangements.