A case from Muzaffarpur district in Bihar has raised questions over police functioning after a father was forced to search for his missing son on his own before the youth was later found dead under suspicious circumstances.
According to family members, the young man suddenly went missing from home. When he did not return for several hours and his mobile phone was found switched off, the family grew concerned. The following day, the matter was reported at the local police station. The family has alleged that the police did not treat the complaint with seriousness and advised them to wait, carrying out only formal procedures.
The family continued to approach the police station repeatedly, but no concrete information about the missing youth emerged. As days passed with no progress, the father decided to initiate a search on his own.
The father arranged a loudspeaker and began appealing for information by announcing his son’s name, physical description, and contact details. He travelled through roads, markets, intersections, and villages from morning till evening, requesting help from the public. Several people assured him of assistance, but no confirmed information was received.
During this period, the family’s condition deteriorated. After several days of continuous searching, the missing youth’s body was recovered under suspicious circumstances.
Following the recovery, family members alleged that if the police had acted promptly and launched a search operation in the initial stages using appropriate technical resources, the youth’s life might have been saved. They stated that the initial hours in missing person cases are crucial but were lost in this instance.
The family has demanded an impartial and high-level investigation into the matter and strict action if any negligence or role is found. Police officials have stated that an investigation is underway and that all aspects of the case are being examined.
