A 16-year-old, who went missing from his house in Bengaluru’s Girinagar since May 20 has credited a viral video message from actor Sudeep for convincing him to return home.
Manikanta was traced to Tirupati by officials from Girinagar police station, who confirmed that the teenager had run away from his home on May 20 after a dispute with his parents. "There was a disagreement between the boy and his parents after the parents questioned him about skipping tuition classes. After this, he left home and did not return for weeks," said a police official at Girinagar police station.
The police were alerted by a tourist in Tirupati about the boy's whereabouts and managed to bring him back safely on Monday. Upon his return, the boy revealed that he was convinced to come back after he watched a video message from actor Sudeep that went viral.
In the video, the actor is seen requesting the boy to return assuring him that he would meet him if he returns home. " If you get to watch this video it would make me happy. In a home, there will be disagreements with parents but nothing is big in front of the love of parents. There is no love as pure as that in this world, Manikanta. They are in too much tension right now, so please come back home. Please come back home, I and my fans request you to go back home. After you have gone back home, I myself will come meet you," says the actor in the video.
The video was shared widely by Sudeep fans on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. Manikanta revealed to police officials that he had come across the video in Tirupati and narrated his ordeal to a tourist who later alerted the police. After the boy returned home on Monday, Manikanta and his mother thanked Girinagar Police officer Channe Gowda, Sudeep and his fans for helping them. Manikanta also added that he won't disobey his parents again.
@KicchaSudeep Anna Here's the video...#Manikanta and his Mother Have a message for you... pic.twitter.com/c0f1bxpfCi
— KSSS Official ® (@KSSS_Official_) June 19, 2018