16-Year-Old Anuj Chaudhary Found After Three Months, Handed To Parents

Sixteen-year-old Anuj Chaudhary, who was recovered from Barsana in Mathura after remaining untraced for about three months, was handed over to his parents by the Child Welfare Committee on Monday. The committee has allowed him to stay with his parents for 10 days for the time being, according to his wishes.

Before appearing before the committee, Anuj was produced before the ACJM court in Sadabad. Following the court’s order, the police took him to the Hathras Child Welfare Committee. The committee then permitted him to remain with his parents for 10 days.

Anuj refused to provide any information before the committee. His family members said they would speak to him after taking him home. They said it would be possible to understand where Anuj had stayed during the past about three months and what had happened to him only after talking to him.

Anuj’s uncle Jitendra said that his nephew had been found in Barsana. He said the family currently had no information about where Anuj had stayed during the three-month period or the circumstances in which he had lived. According to Jitendra, the family would first speak to Anuj, after which the complete situation could become clear.

Anuj is the 16-year-old son of Rajveer Singh, a resident of Kheda Baramai village in the Sadabad area. He is an Intermediate student. According to his family, Anuj had gone to Premanand Maharaj’s ashram on 25 June and returned after taking initiation there.

The family said Anuj had told them after returning from the ashram that his inclination had now turned towards spirituality. He later left home on 3 July, saying that he was going to coaching. However, he did not return.

When repeated searches failed to locate him, the family lodged a missing-person report at Sadabad police station. The family continued making efforts to trace him, but for a considerable period there was no information about his whereabouts.

Three days earlier, after Anuj could still not be traced, his family staged a protest outside Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan. The family had expressed apprehension that Anuj might be inside the ashram. They returned from the protest after Mathura Police gave them an assurance.

After this, the police intensified the search for Anuj. On Saturday evening, the police recovered him from Barsana in Mathura. The police also arranged a meeting between Anuj and members of his family.

On Monday, the police produced Anuj before the ACJM court in Sadabad. After receiving the court’s order, they brought him before the Hathras Child Welfare Committee. After considering the circumstances, the committee allowed Anuj to stay with his parents for 10 days, according to his own wish.

The family’s biggest concern now is to find out where Anuj stayed for the three months and under what circumstances. However, Anuj has so far refused to share any information. His family has said that the full picture will become clear only after they are able to speak with him.