Cyberabad Police reunite missing boy with his father at RGIA

Hyderabad: Cyberabad Police displayed the highest standard of professionalism when they traced and reunited a four-year-old boy with his father minutes after he went missing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).

Panic gripped the RGIA on Tuesday when a four-year-old boy went missing at the arrivals area during a routine pickup.

Child goes missing amid arrivals rush

Md. Salman Pasha had arrived at the airport with his son, Mustafa, to receive relatives arriving from Jeddah. In the movement of passengers and the general rush at the arrivals gate, Mustafa slipped away from the family’s sight.

Pasha immediately approached the RGIA Outpost (OP) Police Station to lodge a complaint. According to officials, the initial few minutes were crucial.

“Airports are high-movement zones, so response time becomes critical,” said RGIA police official N. Sridhar, speaking to NewsMeter. “Once the complaint was filed, our team began parallel checks both on the ground and through surveillance channels.”

Rapid coordination and search operation

The RGIA OP team activated both human intelligence inputs and technical systems. CCTV review, ground-level staff deployment, and communication with Immigration and airport agencies were all initiated simultaneously.

Officials said the structured coordination between departments helped narrow down the child’s movements quickly.

Mustafa was soon found in a nearby zone within the terminal, unharmed. The police team handed him over to his father after confirming his identity and circumstances.

Father expresses relief

A relieved Salman Pasha thanked the police team for their swift action. The incident highlighted how easily children can get disoriented in crowded public spaces and the importance of fast coordination in such cases.

Senior officials acknowledge team effort

DCP Shamshabad B. Rajesh commended the work of the RGIA OP personnel.

“The team acted with precision and clarity,” DCP Rajesh said. “Immediate coordination between ground staff and technical teams made the difference.”

RGIA OP SHO Kanakaiah Samapathi also noted the significance of such responses in maintaining public trust.

“Missing child cases inside transport hubs are extremely time-sensitive,” SHO Samapathi said. “Our staff followed all protocols and ensured the child was reunited with his family without delay.”

Background: Airport policing and child safety

The RGIA Outpost, part of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate, handles hundreds of passenger assistance cases annually, ranging from misplaced baggage to missing persons and support for vulnerable travellers. Over the years, police have strengthened their coordination with airport agencies, including Immigration, CISF, and terminal management.

Missing children cases, though rare, receive top priority due to the dense movement of passengers and the potential risks associated with crowded terminals. Protocols typically include:

• Immediate activation of CCTV surveillance

• Deployment of station and airport staff across multiple zones

• Coordination with terminal management and Immigration

• Real-time communication between all units via secured channels

These protocols were followed during Tuesday’s incident, officials confirmed.