Missing kids: Cops rapped for shoddy probe

Chennai

A division bench comprising Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice V Bharathidasan while hearing the status of a habeas corpus petition moved by citybased activist M B Nirmal to trace two children abducted from the pavements  of Chennai remarked: “The court is not at the mercy of the government in such matters.”

The affidavit filed in response to the habeas corpus plea highlighting the theft and abduction of the two toddlers, said: “As on April 30, cases of 565 boys and 638 girls missing were under investigation by the Chennai city police.

According to SCRB records, 181 boys and 151 girls missing cases are now under investigation by Chennai city police.”

However, the bench, referring to the seven cases of missing children that  had been closed as ‘undetected,’ asked the additional public prosecutor on what basis those cases were closed. “If so, you should pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the aggrieved families. Did you do so?”

The judges wanted a senior officer, preferably in the rank of Additional Director-General of Police to appear in court to explain the steps taken to trace missing children. Noting that they could not simply adjourn the case, the judges said a senior officer must explain what concrete steps had been taken since  even the children who had gone missing in 2011 were yet to be traced.

Saranya aged nine months had gone missing in the wee hours of February 29 while sleeping with her parents on the pavement in Waltax Road. CCTV footage revealed that she was kidnapped by unknown person who came in a car.  

Similarly, on March 21, Rokesh, aged eight months who too was sleeping on platform near North Fort Road went missing. CCTV footage revealed that two persons in an autorickshaw, and another two suspects travelling in a green colour van committed the offence.