The Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concern over the police investigation into the case of a six-year-old girl who disappeared from Gumla district in 2018. A division bench, led by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, has summoned all Superintendents of Police who served in Gumla since 2018, along with the investigating officers, to appear in court. The court has warned that if the police fail to locate the child, the case may be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
During the recent hearing, the court criticized the state government for the lack of progress in finding the missing child even after seven years. The bench highlighted the failure of the police system in the case, emphasizing the need for a more effective investigation. The court has expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s efforts and indicated that transferring the case to the CBI could be a justifiable step.
The High Court has raised doubts about the investigative capabilities of the police and termed the prolonged inability to trace the child as deeply concerning. Despite previous appearances by high-ranking police officials before the court, no significant headway has been made in the case. The court has emphasized the importance of utilizing data and establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in missing children cases, stressing the need for concrete results.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on June 9, with all summoned officers required to be present and provide responses.
