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Propose system to trace those missing in city: HC to state
With more than 18,000 untraceable people gone missing from the city and its two neighbouring districts since 2005, the Bombay High Court asked the state to propose a mechanism to trace these people.
With more than 18,000 untraceable people gone missing from the city and its two neighbouring districts since 2005, the Bombay High Court asked the state to propose a mechanism to trace these people.
The alarming statistics were revealed in an affidavit filed by Pravin Dixit, principal secretary (Home Department) in reply to a petition filed by Chandrakant Pateliya, whose 22-year son, Brijesh, went missing from Mira Road in November 2008.
The software engineer, who was staying at a community hostel in Mira Road, had gone out for lunch on August 27 and never returned. Brijesh had, however, sent a SMS to one of his friends, which said somebody had kidnapped him.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is also helping the local police in tracing Brijesh, whose email account was found to be in operation. The CBI is attempting to obtain information regarding the email account from concerned service provider.
The affidavit revealed 98,151 persons had gone missing from these three urbanised districts between January 2005 and October 2010, and 18,018 out of them were still untraced.
Dixit’s affidavit further reveals that the state capital leads with the figure of 10,929 untraceable missing persons. That is followed by neighbouring Thane district with 6,757 persons gone missing since 2005 and yet to be traced.
The principal secretary had filed the affidavit as directed by the division bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice AP Bhangale.
The bench was alerted after Pateliya obtained information regarding untraced missing persons from Mira–Bhayander belt.
The RTI replies received by the petitioner revealed the Mira Road police had failed to trace 438 persons gone missing during last five years.
The figures for Kashimira and Bhayander police stations were 200 and 95 respectively.
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