Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Madhu Bangarappa said on Wednesday that all efforts are being made to trace a 17-year-old PU student from Mangaluru, who went missing on February 25.

Raising the issue during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, U.T. Khader, Speaker, said the family members of the student Digant and local residents are worried about the boy. Mr. Khader sought an update on tracing the boy.

Member V. Sunil Kumar said the time taken in detecting the boy was raising concerns on the boy’s safety. The boy was actively involved in ‘Bhajan Mandir’ activities. The government has to take serious note of the incident and speed up efforts to trace the boy. Farangipet residents staged a protest recently urging police to trace the whereabouts of the boy, he said.

Speaking on behalf of Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Mr. Bangarappa said the boy went to college on February 25 to collect the hall ticket of an examination. After returning home, the boy again left by saying that he would go to a nearby temple. Since then the boy has been missing.

The Dakshina Kannada police have formed seven teams to trace the boy. The police have found the mobile phone that the boy was carrying. The police have gone through the call detail records and called all relatives and friends that the boy was in contact with.

The police are yet get any clue about the boy’s whereabouts. “We know the sensitivity of this case. All efforts are being made to trace him at the earliest. We are regularly giving updates to the boy’s family members,” Mr. Bangrappa said.

Umanath Kotian also spoke on the issue.