In a remote village in Bokaro district along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border, a solitary mahua tree stands in an empty yard, symbolizing a family’s prolonged anguish over their missing daughter.
The mother expresses fading hope, stating, ‘Each day erodes our expectations. We’ve seen our place in this system.’
The 18-year-old vanished on July 21 last year. After nine months of fruitless searches and urging police action, the family filed a habeas corpus petition in the Jharkhand High Court. Following court criticism, authorities located skeletal remains believed to be hers, just 10 kilometers from home at her last known site, and made an arrest.
In response, the police suspended all 28 officers from the local station, including the head, for failing in their duties.
The family, who survive as small-scale farmers and laborers, continues their pursuit of justice.
They claim the arrested man in his 20s had been in a relationship with their daughter, with homes only 100 meters apart.
The father alleges the suspect’s prominent family opposed any marriage. He adds that their daughter had ended the relationship, and they were exploring other options for her.
Shortly after passing her Class 12 exams, she borrowed a friend’s bicycle to visit a nearby college for bachelor’s degree enrollment and never returned.
The family reported her missing to the police, who reportedly declined to file a report, warning of potential legal consequences if she was found with someone voluntarily.
Despite repeated attempts, action was delayed. The family suspected the young man’s involvement, citing his alleged political connections as a barrier to investigation.
On August 4, two weeks later, police filed a kidnapping case against unknown individuals. They recovered the bicycle near the college, 10 kilometers away.
The suspect, a postgraduate student, was questioned but released, with minimal case advancement. A friend of the missing woman was also interviewed about the relationship.
In December, nearly six months after the disappearance, the family received an anonymous call claiming she was in Pune, which they dismissed as a hoax; the caller’s identity remains unknown.
The family persisted, contacting officials including the chief minister’s office, before petitioning the high court in February. They alleged coercion to alter statements and mistreatment of a relative.
On April 9, the court directed the removal of the station’s officer-in-charge and addressed the family’s complaints.
The suspect was then arrested, and remains were discovered behind the college.
The mother doubts the identification, noting no DNA samples were taken from them for verification. ‘How can they confirm it’s her without tests?’
On April 15, justices questioned the police’s conclusions and inquired about DNA analysis.
The case is set for further hearing on May 7.
The suspect’s mother rejects the accusations, claiming her son was beaten to force a confession. ‘Dozens of vehicles from Ranchi arrived and took him.’
The current case is for a missing person against unknowns. A positive DNA match could lead to murder charges against the suspect.
The mother describes their isolated struggle: ‘We pulled our son from school and sent him to Rajasthan where my husband worked, so he could return and assist in the search.’ She hopes DNA results will show the remains are not their daughter’s.
