Bokaro Police Face HC Wrath in 5-Year-Old Missing Girl Probe

In a scathing rebuke, the Jharkhand High Court on Friday tore into Bokaro police for their ineptitude in investigating the 2020 vanishing of a 14-year-old girl. Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad, hearing the habeas corpus petition, voiced frustration over the force's repeated failures in missing persons cases involving females. 'Why do Bokaro police draw a blank whenever a child or young woman disappears?' the bench demanded, putting the spotlight on the district's past and present SPs and DSP. The court was appalled that even after classifying it as potential kidnapping, investigators dragged their feet on crucial leads. Deeming the investigation woefully inadequate, the division bench ordered the CID to file a detailed progress report in three weeks. Failure to show results could prompt the court to involve the CBI alongside state probes, the judges cautioned firmly. Key irregularities included plans for narco analysis on suspects abandoned midway and a sudden case handover to CID years later, seemingly to cover tracks. Registered at Pindrajoda station as Case 161/20, the matter saw four arrests followed by releases, leaving the family desperate. The mother's plea to the High Court after half a decade of inaction has galvanized judicial intervention. Another similar case of an 18-year-old from Bokaro will be heard on June 8, signaling the court's intent to overhaul police responsiveness in such grave matters.