In the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, lies the prestigious Bishop Cotton School, renowned for its 165-year history. Esteemed alumni include former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, ex-RAW chief AS Dulat, famous author Ruskin Bond, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh, IPL founder Lalit Modi, and Bollywood actor Kumar Gaurav. Despite its illustrious reputation, the school's security has recently come under scrutiny. In a bold daylight kidnapping, three students were abducted, but the swift action of the police thwarted the kidnapper's plans.
On August 9, a Saturday, just 600 meters from Bishop Cotton School, this shocking kidnapping rocked the community. Three sixth-grade students, Angad from Karnal, Hitendra from Mohali, and Vidansh from Kullu, exited the school at 12:09 PM with their usual weekend outing passes. They were to return by 5 PM, but they vanished. As soon as the school management learned of this, they were deeply concerned. Principal Mathew P. John promptly alerted Shimla police, filing a formal missing report for all three students.
Based on their report, FIR No. 20/2025 was filed under section 137(2) of the Indian Penal Code 2023. Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi formed multiple teams with over 150 policemen, deploying both the cyber unit and drones in the operation. Investigations revealed the children were seen getting into a suspicious vehicle in New Shimla. The car bore fake Delhi registration plates. Tracking the vehicle's location, it appeared to head towards Upper Shimla. Further probing led the police to a shocking discovery and suspicion focused on a certain individual.
Plot Hatched by Former Student
The individual, Sumit Sood, was a former student of Bishop Cotton School, residing in Chhaithla village near Kotkhai. According to police sources, Sumit was well-versed with the school's CCTV coverage, outing system, and security gaps. He lured the children by promising a lift, taking them to his car, and later to a four-story building. The upper floor was constructed, and there he confined the children, fastening their hands and sealing their mouths with tape. He then informed Angad's mother of the kidnapping through a phone call.
Source: aajtak
Piecing Together the Foreign Call Clues
Sumit told Angad's mother, "We've abducted your child. Don’t disconnect the phone. Avoid police or media. We'll talk about the ransom later." Angad, the only one among them to remember his home landline number, prompted his uncle, Bhupendra Lather, who is an MC in Karnal, to contact the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister. Subsequent calls from the CM office to local police officials accelerated the investigation. CCTV footage across Shimla was thoroughly scoured. A foreign number was traced, with ties suspected to some of Sumit’s relatives in Canada.
Entry of SIT and the Rescue Mission
Crucial evidence was found in the form of CCTV footage at a Kotkhai petrol pump, spotting the suspect vehicle. SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi led ASP Navdeep Singh to form an SIT. The SIT raided Chhaithla village in Kotkhai on a Sunday, rescuing all three children safely. Suspect Sumit Sood was apprehended on-site. Initial police investigations unveiled Sumit's massive financial losses of 3-4 crore rupees in stock market and online trading, which allegedly led him to plot the kidnapping out of debt desperation.
Source: aajtak
Mother a Teacher, Wife Runs a Bakery
Weapons were recovered from Sumit Sood’s residence. His mother had been a teacher and his wife operates a bakery. SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi stated, "We formed an SIT, swiftly working to bring the children back safely. Detailed investigations will uncover the true motive behind the crime." Shimla's Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap commented, "Such incidents are rare here. Still, schools, teachers, and parents need to exercise greater caution." Angad's uncle Bhupendra Lather expressed, "This was a terrifying time for our family. The swift police response averted disaster."
