CUTTACK/BHADRAK: Twenty-four hours after the Orissa High Court took serious note of lapses in investigation into the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, Bhadrak police rescued the minor and suspended an assistant sub-inspector for negligence in the high-profile abduction case.
The girl was rescued from a rented house in Keonjhar district during a late-night operation by Dhamnagar police on August 11. After conducting her medical examination, police shifted the minor to a shelter home for care and counselling. Bhadrak SP Manoj Rout also placed ASI in Dhamnagar police station Nepal Saha under suspension on charges of bribery and dereliction of duty as he failed to trace the victim or the accused for nearly two months.
The girl went missing on June 18 and after Dhamnagar police failed to trace her, her father filed a habeas corpus petition in the high court seeking urgent intervention.
On Monday, a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MS Raman heard the matter and recorded the appearance of the Bhadrak SP and the IIC of Dhamnagar police station. The bench directed strict oversight and personal monitoring by senior police officials.
Following the court’s stern observations on August 5 regarding bribery allegations involving local police, SP Rout informed the bench that the investigating officer had been placed under suspension. The court was assured that further lawful action would follow. A report detailing recent developments, including a fresh clue in the case, was submitted and taken on record.
“We appreciate the concerns shown by the Superintendent of Police and do not intend to disclose the further facts as revealed therefrom as it might be counterproductive,” the bench noted.
It was also revealed that the girl’s details have been uploaded on the central portal under Mission Vatsalya, and technical tools like call detail records and IMEI tracking are being used. The court directed the SP to continue personally supervising the investigation and provide necessary directives as warranted. The case will be taken up again on August 25 for an update on the progress made based on the latest leads.
Importantly, the IIC of Dhamnagar police station was directed to ensure that the petitioner, the girl’s father, is not harassed. Simultaneously, the petitioner has been asked to cooperate fully with the investigation. Earlier on August 5, the court had expressed shock over allegations that some police officers had demanded bribes from the petitioner after claiming that the girl had been located in Sambalpur.
The bench remarked that if such allegations were proven, they would cast a serious shadow on the impartiality of the officers and stain the credibility of the police force.