Social media helps missing teenager reach home safely

Pune: Social media is always at the receiving end for reasons like circulating fake news but this time has proved to be a blessing for Ajay Shinde who found his lost son within 48 hours. 

His son Atharva (14) went missing on January 20 after he had arguments with his father He was found at Akkalkot on January 22 by a shopkeeper who saw a message about his missing that had gone viral on social media. Akkalkot is a popular pilgrimage centre of Swami Samarth.

Atharva and his father had some arguments on Sunday after which in a feat of anger, the boy left the house. A resident of Sinhgad Road, Athrava went to Swargate bus depot and took a bus to Akkalkot. He reached the place on the same night at 10 pm. He had dinner at the temple’s ‘annachhatara’ and slept in its premises,” said Ajay. 

Meanwhile, Ajay had lodged the missing complaint with Sinhagad police station and posted his missing child’s pictures on Facebook and WhatsApp. This message reached the shopkeeper. He saw the boy buying food items from his shop the next morning. Incidentally, the shopkeeper had resided at Vadgaon on Sinhgad Road and thus had received the message,” Ajay said.
 
He then inquired with the boy about his whereabouts and after confirming that he was Atharva, he informed his friend who lives in Vadgaon. Then, one of the friends contacted Atharva’s father.
“Immediately, we rushed to Akkalkot on January 21 itself. Till then Atharva was taken care by the shopkeeper,” said Ajay who along with his wife then brought back the boy to Pune on 
January 22.