BHADRAK: It is a long agonising wait for a labourer couple of Ramachandrapur village under Bonth police limits.
Kuntala and Surendra’s eleven- year-old daughter, Liza, has been missing from Delhi since January 2008. She was taken to Delhi in July 2007 by one Amulya Pradhan of Nimapada, neighbouring village, to engage her as a maid in his brother Atul’s house at Ashok Nagar in Delhi.
She was taken on the condition that Liza will look after Atul’s two children.
“I had no option but to send the child as it was difficult to manage the family with four girl children with my husband’s meagre income,” Kuntala told this paper on Wednesday.
Things were fine till January 2008, when the parents were informed by Amulya that Liza had gone missing in Delhi. A case was registered at Ashok Nagar police station. Ever since there has been no news of the girl.
Surendra, who had lodged a complaint with Bonth police on January 29 last year, said Amulya had offered him Rs 1 lakh to withdraw the complaint. However, he did not agree to the proposal and is still fighting for his daughter.
The couple met district Superintendent of Police in February seeking his intervention. Still when no steps were taken, the couple filed a complaint in SDJM court. But the Bonth police did not respond to court’s direction, alleged Sashibhusan Panda, Surendra’s lawyer.
As a last resort a writ petition was filed in the Orissa High Court in October 2008, Panda said adding police is still silent though the HC has directed them to take steps to trace the missing girl.
Denying the allegations Bonth police said all possible measurers were taken to rescue girl. The Circle Inspector of police has conducted an inquiry at the direction of the Superintendent of Police.
Besides, an affidavit on nine points has been submitted in the High Court on the case with the Circle Inspector’s investigation report, said Satya Das the officer- in-Charge of Bonth police station. Moreover, Delhi police is investigating the case, the OIC said.
Meanwhile, Kuntala fears the worst - that her daughter has been murdered. Suspecting foul play Panda said instead of filing a missing case in Delhi Atul filed a kidnapping case and had mentioned Liza as his own daughter.