Mourning relatives of Golu in Gaya on Tuesday. Picture by Suman

Patna, Jan. 4: When police told Jeetender Kumar — the father of five-year-old Golu — that the body of his son could not be found, he was dissatisfied.

Jeetender searched the banks of Falgu river in Gaya for an hour and returned with Golu’s remains — his head and his clothes. His abductors had buried him in the sand after killing him.

“My child was murdered. The police should have at least searched the place properly. My son deserves a cremation,” Jeetender told The Telegraph.

The police had told him that dogs had eaten Golu’s body. “I searched only for an hour and found the body. What were they doing?” added Jeetender.

Officers from Gaya Civil Lines police station were shocked to hear that the body had been found.

They rushed to the spot and took the body in their custody for conducting “formalities”.

He said he could not still believe the fact that his tenant, Anshu, had kidnapped Golu.

“Anshu was so friendly with Golu. He has been a tenant in my house for six months. My son used to spend a lot of time with him. How could he have done this?” said the bewildered father.

Golu was kidnapped by teenagers, Anshu and Ravi, from his house in Naya Sadak in Gaya on December 22. He was killed and his body disposed of, hours after the abduction. The duo was arrested on January 1.

The cops are calling it a new trend — abduction of children by their friends, relatives or acquaintances.

Bihar director-general of police Neel Mani said tracking and preventing such abduction was a thorn in the skin of the police.

“Criminal gangs can be trapped and nabbed. We have our records and know their modus operandi. But abductions of children by family members or acquaintances become very difficult to solve. These people have no criminal antecedents and we do not know whom to track,” said Mani. In a bid to prevent such crimes, the Bihar police headquarters on Monday evening issued a directive to the superintendents of police in various districts to conduct interactive sessions in schools. The interactive sessions would be organised after taking the principals in confidence. The aim of these sessions would be to make students aware of the dos and don’ts when they step out of home.

“The focus would be on teaching the students on how to remain alert and safe. They will be asked to stay in touch with their parents — they should tell their parents where they are going, with whom and when they will return,” said senior police officer. The officer added psychiatrists would be consulted on this.

R.P. Kumar, a businessman, said: “I am very scared. My son is 12 years old. He goes out to play with his friends in the afternoon. I cannot stop him but I remain worried till he returns home.”

Kumar said the interactive sessions proposed by the police was a good idea.A source said his fear was not misplaced.

Vaishali resident four-year-old Neeraj Kumar was kidnapped and killed in a similar manner. On December 22, family friend Lakho Rai whom Neeraj referred to as “uncle”, abducted and killed him. Then, he started calling up Neeraj’s father demanding a ransom of Rs 15 lakh. Lakho and two his teenaged accomplices were arrested on January 2. Gardanibagh resident 10-year-old Amarjeet Kumar was kidnapped and murdered by four of his teenaged friends on December 20.

The murderers had lured Amarjeet to a lodge in Jakkanpur by promising him an Ipod before strangling him to death.