Thu Apr 09 22:03:35 UTC 2026: ### Jharkhand High Court Orders Action in Missing Minor Case, Cites Police Inaction

The Story:
The Jharkhand High Court has intervened in the case of a minor girl missing from Bokaro since July 21, 2025, ordering the removal of the officer-in-charge of the relevant police station. The court expressed serious concerns about the police’s handling of the case, particularly the alleged harassment of the girl’s family, despite a prior court order preventing such actions. The family claims that the police initially refused to register an FIR and even threatened them against filing a complaint.

Key Points:

  • A minor girl went missing from Bokaro on July 21, 2025.
  • The family alleges that the police refused to register an FIR initially, only doing so on August 4, 2025.
  • The police allegedly threatened and discouraged the family from filing a complaint.
  • In December 2025, the family received a call claiming the girl was in Pune.
  • A suspect, Loknath Mahato, was detained in January 2026 but escaped police custody.
  • The High Court ordered no coercive action against the family on April 7, 2026, but a relative was allegedly picked up by police anyway.
  • The next hearing is scheduled for April 15, 2026.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Jharkhand High Court is taking a strong stance against alleged police negligence and harassment in missing persons cases.
  • The delay in registering the FIR and the subsequent alleged harassment of the family raise serious questions about police accountability and responsiveness.
  • The escape of the detained suspect further compounds the issues of police competence and integrity.
  • Court intervention highlights a potential systemic problem within the Jharkhand police force regarding the handling of missing persons cases, particularly those involving minors.

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