Four years ago, when 4-year-old Shivam went missing from a temple, his family’s world was shattered. Despite countless, desperate attempts to find him, there was no trace of him. However, four years later, fate took an unexpected turn. Police found the now 8-year-old while they were investigating another child abduction case. The case emerged from Bihar’s Aurangabad district, after police launched an operation to rescue a kidnapped child named Advik. During the raid at the residence of the accused, Ranjoo Devi, in Obra, while rescuing Aadvik, police also found Shivam, who had been missing since May 30, 2022. Investigation revealed that the child trafficking gang specifically targeted temples and crowded religious gatherings. After DNA verification and identification by family members, police confirmed that the rescued child was indeed Shivam Pandey. The traffickers had changed Shivam’s identity. As per reports he was living with another family, and they were raising him as their “own son.”
Left: 4 year old Shivam | Right: 8 year old Shivam
The coincidence attached to the story makes it even more emotional. Shivam went missing on the day of Vat Savitri Vrat, and four years later, he was found on the same occasion. Shivam’s family had recently shifted to Delhi in search of work while the hopes of finding Shivam were still in their hearts. As soon as Bihar Police informed Shivam’s parents that their son had finally been found, the family rushed to see their long-lost child again. In a now-viral clip of Shivam, a person gently asks him, “Kya naam hai babu?” (what is your name dear?), The 8-year-old pauses for a moment before softly replying, “Rau… Shivam.” The conversation suggests that the people who allegedly kidnapped him had renamed him “Raushan.” Certainly, Shivam is now carrying an emotional confusion. The person then asks, “Mummy-papa ki yaad aati thi?” (“Did you miss your mom and dad?) Shivam’s response to the question is heartbreaking. “Nahi, utna saal hogaya na toh yaad nahi aata hai,” he says innocently, meaning, “No… it has been so many years that I don’t really remember anymore.”He further adds, “Thoda sa udaasi hai, inko chhod ke jaa rahe hain na… phir milne aate rahenge inse…” (“I feel a little sad because I am leaving them… but I will keep coming back to meet them.”) Implying that he will miss the people he was living with for four years.
Image: Instagram/@aurangabad_district
The reunion, which took place at the Obra police station in Aurangabad district, overflowed with emotions, the moment Shivam’s mother saw him. People asked Shivam, “Pehchano mummy ko pehchano” (Identify your mother), the 8-year-old pointed towards Shanti Pandey, his real or biological mother. Unable to control her tears, the mother tightly held her son. As she embraced her dear son, she asked, “Kahan chhod ke chala gaya tha beta?… Kitna roi thi teri mummy babu…” (“Where did you go, my child?… Your mother cried so much for you…”).Still holding him in her arms, she repeatedly said, “Ab toh kahin nahi jaoge na babu…” (“Now you won’t go anywhere again, right my child?”).
Why parents need to be extra careful with kids in crowded areas
While Shivam’s reunion with his family has touched millions emotionally, the incident also highlights a serious issue that many parents often overlook; the risks children can face in crowded places. Here are some precautions parents can take:
- Always keep your child within sight, and avoid letting them wander alone, even for a short distance.
- Always hold your child’s hands in crowded places. Being physically connected with them is more reliable than keeping an eye on them.
- Warm children about strangers and teach them to never go anywhere with unknown people.
- Take a recent photo before entering crowded places as it can help authorities quickly identify what the child was wearing if they go missing.
- If a child goes missing, parents should immediately inform police or nearby authorities instead of waiting or searching alone for too long. The first few hours are extremely crucial.
