BCS Shimla to tighten safety after first-ever student kidnapping in 170 years, Boys rescued in 24 hours
Shimla, Aug 11,
Shimla’s prestigious Bishop Cotton School (BCS) is set to introduce stringent new safety protocols for its students following the armed abduction of three Class VI boarders last week (Saturday) — the first such incident in the institution’s nearly 170-year history.
Addressing a joint press briefing with school Headmaster Mathew P John, Shimla MLA and BCS alumnus Harish Janartha said he had stepped in to speak for the school because he is the local MLA, a former student, and has previously served on the school board.
Headmaster Mathew P John acknowledged the outdated protocol for students going on outings and announced, “From now on, no student — even seniors — will be allowed to proceed for outings or travel home without adult supervision.” He added that the school would seek police assistance in drafting the new protocols to ensure they are robust and practical.
BCS, known globally for its legacy and high proportion of international students — about 350–400 of its boarders are from abroad — has traditionally allowed different outing protocols for juniors and seniors. “Children up to Class V are accompanied by teachers, while senior classes (VI–VIII) go out in groups so they can watch out for one another,” Janartha explained.
On the day of the incident, the three boys were granted ‘town leave’ for Raksha Bandhan and were issued a combined outpass to leave the campus together after noon. While walking towards Khalini Road, they were allegedly approached by a man in a car who introduced himself as a former student. Offering them a lift to town, he reportedly abducted them at gunpoint.
Defending the school’s immediate response, Janartha said, “When the boys failed to return at the stipulated time, the school informed the police and the parents within ten minutes.” He praised the Shimla Police’s swift action, adding that the state government fully supported the school. “In this government alone, there are at least six MLAs who have studied at BCS,” he noted.
Police sources have indicated that the accused may have been a day scholar at BCS years ago, though no official confirmation has been made so far.
Founded in 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, BCS is among Asia’s oldest boarding schools and has produced numerous distinguished alumni, including author Ruskin Bond, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, and industrialist Ratan Tata.
While this revamp in safety norms is specific to BCS, such measures could also serve as a model for other elite boarding institutions in India — including The Lawrence School, Sanawar — where large numbers of young boarders routinely go on supervised outings. The school management has confirmed that lessons from the incident will lead to a complete overhaul of safety procedures, especially for students going off-campus. “We are reframing new, more stringent safety protocols to ensure such an incident never happens again,” the Headmaster stressed.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the three students — Angad from Karnal, Hitendra from Mohali, and Vidansh from Kullu — were abducted at gunpoint by the accused and driven nearly 60 km to Kokoonala in Kotkhai. They were held captive overnight and threatened with a loaded gun and knife. A breakthrough came the following day when locals near Theog identified the suspect’s vehicle and alerted the police. Acting swiftly, a Shimla Police team raided the house, rescuing the boys on Sunday and returning them safely to the school after medical examination at IGMC Shimla.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
