Meerut, 04 Aug (HS): Three children's remains were

found in an empty plot in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, a day after they

went missing while playing outside their houses, according to authorities. The

finding of remains has sparked concern and fury in the neighborhood, with

family members and residents protesting outside a nearby police outpost,

demanding immediate action and explanations. According to authorities, three

youngsters, Manvi (8), Shibu (8), and Ritik (8), went missing about 10 a.m. on

Sunday while playing outside their houses in Ward One in Sival Khas. Despite

ongoing efforts by family and townspeople throughout the day, no trace of the

youngsters was located on Sunday, and the three bodies were discovered laying

in an open plot in the neighborhood about 5.30 a.m., police said.

According to

Ashutosh Kumar, Sardhana Circle Officer, the corpses' condition and the place

of recovery indicate that the deaths were not natural. He stated that the

corpses had been submitted for post-mortem, and the exact cause of death will

be determined following the report. The

three youngsters came from households of daily wage workers. Two of them were

enrolled in local schools, while one had yet to begin school. Police have

initiated a thorough investigation, looking into every potential aspect,

according to officials.

Around 5:30 a.m.

on Monday, residents discovered the three children's bodies in a

rainwater-filled empty plot on the fringes of an under-construction community.

The police were quickly notified, and they went to the location. The bodies

were taken for postmortem examination.

Ashutosh Kumar, Circle Officer (Saradhna), stated that there were no evident

exterior injuries on the bodies, and preliminary results indicate that the

youngsters drowned. However, the bereaved family have disputed the drowning

scenario, claiming that the children were killed and their remains thrown in

the water. One grieving dad added, It can't be an accident that all three

of them died in the same spot.

The police have

promised a thorough probe from every available aspect. A large police presence

has been deployed in the area to prevent disturbance, as emotions among locals

mount over what they allege was a delayed and poor reaction by law enforcement

officials.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi