Orissa High Court Mandates Special Task Force for 2023 Puri Child Kidnapping Investigation
The Orissa High Court has issued a stern directive to the police over the lack of progress in tracing a two-and-a-half-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped in Puri in December 2023. In a significant move, the court has ordered the Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) to constitute a Special Task Force (STF) and personally monitor the investigation to ensure tangible results.
Court Expresses Dissatisfaction Over Prolonged Pendency
Issuing the direction on February 23, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M.S. Raman voiced strong dissatisfaction with the prolonged pendency of the habeas corpus plea filed by the child's parents. The bench observed, "It is a sordid state of affair that since 2023, the instant writ petition in the nature of habeas corpus is pending before this court and despite several directions having passed from time to time, the minor girl, who is allegedly kidnapped, has not been rescued."
The court emphasized that the child's welfare is paramount, stating, "We are concerned with the welfare of the child and no complacency can be shown in this regard." Earlier orders had required the investigating team to either rescue the girl or ascertain her whereabouts, but no tangible outcome has been reported to date.
Directives for Immediate Action and Monitoring
Considering the limited headway in the probe, the court asserted that the time had come for the SP, Puri, to take personal initiative. The SP has been directed to constitute the STF within one week of the communication of the order. Additionally, the SP must review the steps taken by the STF, issue necessary directions as warranted, and file a progress report before the next hearing scheduled for March 16, 2026.
The bench noted that on a previous hearing date, police had informed the court that a girl had been rescued by the Airfield police station in Bhubaneswar. However, she was later identified as someone else and not the petitioner's daughter, highlighting the challenges in the investigation.
Details of the Alleged Kidnapping Incident
According to case records, the child was allegedly kidnapped under distressing circumstances in December 2023. The incident occurred while her mother was selling tender coconuts outside a hotel in Puri. Around 6:20 PM, a man and a woman arrived in a car. While the man engaged the mother in conversation over buying coconuts, the woman allegedly picked up the child from near the vehicle and fled the scene.
Investigation Progress and Challenges
A status report filed in February 2024 indicated that three vehicles had been shortlisted based on CCTV footage, including one with a Jharkhand registration number. Police are continuing their investigation into another suspected vehicle, while the child's photograph has been widely circulated in an effort to trace her. Despite these efforts, the case remains unresolved, prompting the high court's intervention to expedite the process and ensure accountability.
The court's directive underscores the urgency of the matter and aims to bring renewed focus and resources to the investigation, with the hope of reuniting the child with her family after more than two years of uncertainty.
