Raipur Officers Celebrate Toddler’s 1st Birthday After Recovery

The Pandari police station in Raipur made headlines this week for blending routine law enforcement with heartfelt community care. Officers successfully located a one-year-old boy just 150 minutes after he went missing amid a heated family argument.

The incident began on November 3 when the toddler’s father, Lokesha Singh Banjare, visited his estranged wife, Priya Pandey, at her Dandeli residence. A domestic quarrel ensued, with allegations of physical and verbal aggression directed at the mother.

When the father attempted to take the child later that day, a local neighbor intervened, keeping the toddler safe at her home. Priya immediately notified the Pandari police station. Tragically, when she arrived to report the incident, the father showed up and forcibly removed the child and her mobile phone.

Fearing for the infant’s safety, police launched an immediate investigation. Station Incharge Paresh Pandey directed a rapid search team, operating under the oversight of DC North Zone Deepamala Kashyap, ADCCP Aditya Pandey, and ACCP Krishan Kumar Chandraker. Their swift coordination paid off, as the boy was secured within two and a half hours.

In an unexpected twist, authorities realized the day of the disappearance was also the child’s first birthday. Rather than simply closing the file, officers held a small cake-cutting ceremony at the station premises. The gesture underscored the compassionate approach of the Raipur police force.

Legal proceedings have since been initiated. Police registered case number 380/2026 against the father, charging him under sections 296 and 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation into the underlying marital conflict continues.