Rahul (left) and Rishiraj speak before the media. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Dec. 15: Two schoolboys, who had gone missing 14 days ago and took police on a wild goose chase, quietly returned to their homes this morning after a “pilgrimage”.

Rahul Kumar (11) and Rishiraj (12), both students of Class VII of the city-based Ishaan International School, had decided to take a trip to Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and fled their homes on December 2 evening.

Their parents have been accusing the cops of their lackadaisical attitude in the case and stressing that the duo had been kidnapped.

Presenting the children before mediapersons, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Kumar said it was high time that parents realise their responsibilities towards their children. The police admitted that their disappearance had posed a major challenge to the cops, with four police teams trying to recover them.

“Rishiraj, the son of Brajesh Kumar, a resident of PC Colony, has a history of fleeing home. Around two years ago, he had disappeared for almost 10 days from home before reappearing. He had gone to Bodhgaya. After his return, he loved boasting that he had been ‘kidnapped’ to his classmates. Rishiraj lured Rahul to accompany him,” the SSP said.

Rishiraj told the media that his mother used to scold him from time to time. “I used to watch television late at night for which my mother scolded me. I had never seen Vaishno Devi and wanted to visit it. Hence, I left with Rahul,” the boy said.

Around 6pm on December 2, Rishiraj went to Rahul’s Kankerbagh residence and both left for Patna Junction. “Rishiraj’s father stays out of town most of the time and the boy took advantage of that. He befriended Rahul and the latter was impressed at his carefree attitude. They headed straight for the station and boarded the general compartment of Himgiri Express for Jammu. The boys had Rs 270 with them which they took secretly from their homes,” the SSP said.

“Rishiraj, it seems, had taken information about the place, and knew what to do. There checked in to a dharamshaala, which offers free stay. They visited the temple. The boys will be questioned in detail about what they exactly did there. On December 13, they reached New Delhi. From there, they boarded the Sampoorna Kranti Express and reached Patna today. Both reached their respective homes and their families apprised us,” Alok Kumar said.

Psychologists attributed incidents of youngsters fleeing homes to lack of care by parents. “The parents as well the schools should inculcate moral values in children,” the SSP stressed.