A sense of dread has gripped a family in Patna as their 16-year-old daughter, the child of a local businessman, remains untraceable for the past four days. The incident has prompted a police investigation that is currently exploring conflicting theories of a possible elopement and alleged kidnapping.
Disappearance and the Distress Call
The teenager was last seen leaving her family's rented residence in North Krishnapuri, which falls under the jurisdiction of the SK Puri police station, at approximately 5 pm on Thursday. When she failed to return, her worried family initiated a search. Their anxiety peaked on Saturday when they received a distressing phone call from the girl herself.
Following this alarming call, the family formally lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the SK Puri police station. A dedicated police team was immediately assigned to the case and began collecting technical evidence to locate the missing minor.
Police Investigation: Tracing the Call and a Crucial Lead
Providing details of the probe, Station House Officer (SHO) Jitendra Rana informed that the girl had called her mother from an unidentified mobile number. In that brief conversation, she reportedly stated she was heading to Gandhi Maidan before the call was abruptly terminated.
"With assistance from our technical team, we traced the location of that phone number," stated SHO Rana. "It led us to a local vendor selling guavas on Frazer Road. The vendor confirmed to the police that a girl matching the description, dressed in a sari, had purchased some guavas and requested to use his phone to make a call."
Acting on this information, police teams conducted an extensive search operation at Gandhi Maidan and its surrounding areas for over one and a half hours. "We showed photographs of the girl to people in the area," Rana added. "One individual came forward claiming to have seen her at Gandhi Maidan on Saturday, after which she reportedly left in an e-rickshaw."
Diverging Theories: Elopement vs. Kidnapping
The police have indicated a preliminary angle of elopement. "Prima facie, it appears the girl may have eloped with a boy," SHO Jitendra Rana said. "During our inquiries, we spoke to her cousin, who verified that the girl was frequently in touch with a boy over her mobile phone. Our efforts are now focused on tracing this individual."
However, the girl's family strongly contests this theory. They have alleged that she was kidnapped, citing the distressed and fearful tone in her voice during the short phone call on Saturday. The conflicting accounts have added a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation, with police pursuing all lines of inquiry to ascertain the truth and safely recover the minor.
The case continues to develop as authorities piece together the teenager's movements from the time she left her home in North Krishnapuri.
