Three youngsters from Agra’s Lohamandi area disappeared on October 17 after a friend urged them to chase a dream of wealth and fame, citing an Instagram reel.
Police Superintendent Dr. Rajesh Kumar said officers received a missing‑person report from the teens’ parents within hours of the disappearance.
A coordinated search deployed three teams and sifted through more than 200 CCTV recordings from local shops, traffic cameras and residential blocks.
The trio was located inside Chamunda Mata Temple near Raja Mandi, where they were found asleep on a prayer bench; all were recovered within 24 hours of the report.
During questioning, the teens admitted the plan had been conceived after watching short‑form videos and that they intended to return only after “becoming big”.
The police are now conducting a formal inquiry into the motives behind the run‑away, while the families await a statement on the safety of their children.