Jharkhand High Court Expresses Anger Over Missing Girl Case

Ranchi, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Jharkhand High Court has voiced strong dissatisfaction regarding the ongoing investigation into the case of a girl who went missing in Gumla district in 2018. The court criticized both the police and the state government for their apparent negligence in handling the case.

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad’s bench questioned the basis on which former police superintendents and investigators, who served in Gumla from 2018 to 2022, were given a clean chit. The court highlighted that the mandated reports of the investigation were not submitted to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in a timely manner.

During the hearings, the state government acknowledged that the periodic report on the missing girl’s case was submitted to the Gumla DLSA significantly late, on October 23, 2026. The government also sought unconditional apologies from the court for this delay.

The petitioner’s lawyer accused the government of attempting to shield former officials and not presenting accurate facts before the court. The main suspect, Bhukhli Lakra, was arrested on June 6, 2026, and underwent a suspect detection test in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where he was found to be suspicious.

However, the court raised concerns about the delays in the investigation process after several days had passed since the arrest. The bench has demanded an explanation from the Gumla police superintendent regarding the significant delays and negligence in the investigation, as well as what actions have been taken against responsible officials.

It is noteworthy that the mother of the missing girl, Chandramuni Uraon, filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court. At the time of her disappearance, the girl was just six years old. The court has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the police investigation and warned that the case may be handed over to the CBI if the girl is not located soon.