4 months ago
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An mishap astatine Joida successful Uttara Kannada territory connected Monday (January 12, 2026) nighttime helped successful the miraculous rescue of 2 children who were allegedly kidnapped by a motorcyclist from a authorities schoolhouse successful Dharwad.
The 2 children, Tanveer Dodmani and Lakshmi Kariyappanavar, were picked up connected January 12 by the motorcyclist — aboriginal identified arsenic Karm Mestri — from their schoolhouse astatine Kamalapur successful Dharwad during their luncheon break, connected the pretext of taking them to Ulavi Jatre (fair).
Their disappearance from the schoolhouse came to airy successful the evening, starring to panic among the public. The constabulary launched a manhunt for the motorcyclist who was caught leaving the premises with the 2 kids successful the CCTV of a store adjacent the school.
When the residents of Joida successful the neighbouring Uttara Kannada territory alerted the constabulary astir an mishap involving a motorcyclist and 2 kids, they did not realise that their involution had really resulted successful the children’s rescue. It was lone aft the constabulary reached the spot that the nexus to the kidnapping successful Dharwad became clear.
While the accused suffered injuries connected his caput and limbs, the children suffered insignificant injuries. They were initially treated astatine Joida taluk infirmary and aboriginal brought backmost to Dharwad and treated astatine the territory infirmary earlier being reunited with their parents.
POCSO accused
On Tuesday (January 13, 2026), Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar visited territory infirmary successful Dharwad and consoled the parents.
Mr. Shashikumar said the accused Karim Mestri (50), present being treated astatine KMCRI Hospital successful Hubballi, had issued incoherent statements astir taking the children with him. “He is simply a operation idiosyncratic and said helium loved children and had taken them to get them snacks. He besides spoke of buying chocolates for them. But taking chartless children with him raises suspicion astir his motive.”
“Preliminary probe has revealed that a POCSO lawsuit was registered against him successful 2018 for taking a kid into a forest, successful which helium had, subsequently, escaped too. And helium is named successful the past expanse of Haliyal Police Station. After his discharge from the infirmary further interrogation volition beryllium conducted,’ helium added.
Clarifying that the parents of the children were not related to the accused, helium said that fortunately, the children had returned safely. The Police Commissioner besides said that successful the beingness of the parents and the police, the aesculapian introspection of the children was carried retired and that the kids had suffered insignificant injuries.
