2 years on, woman still missing after dera visit
JAIPUR: The family of a 25-year-old woman from Jaipur, who mysteriously disappeared during a visit to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Haryana two years ago, is waiting for her to return.
Even thought Jaipur police have failed to trace the missing woman, the aggrieved family now has a glimmer of hope after the conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim on Friday in a 15-year-old rape case.
“Guddi Devi, the wife of Kamlesh Kumar, went to Sirsa in March 2015 for a religious programme convened by Ram Rahim. During the ceremony, a man from the Dera took his wife away and she hasn’t been seen since,” said Babulal Bairwa, counsel of Kumar.
After failing to know her whereabouts, Kumar filed a complaint at the nearest police station in Sirsa. “Police in Haryana threatened him and refused to lodge the case following which he returned to Jaipur to register the FIR,” said Bairwa. An FIR registered at the Jawahar Circle police station named Ram Rahim, DPS Dutta, managing director of the Dera, and Shah Satnam.
The complainant accused all three of the men of kidnapping, wrongful confinement and criminal conspiracy. “As soon as the FIR was lodged, people claiming to be followers of Ram Rahim and Dera devotees started building pressure on Kumar and me to take back the case. The police didn’t cooperate and termed the case as inconclusive,” said Bairwa.
The two young sons of Kumar and Devi are waiting for their mother to return, with the family yet to find any trace of her.
The police presented a final report at the court in early 2016, terming the case as inconclusive and no action was taken against the accused. Following that, a protest petition against the final report was filed by Kumar in February this year, which will be heard in September. “After the conviction, we hope our case will also be heard,” said Bairwa.
The police said the final report was submitted as the area was outside the jurisdiction of Jaipur police. “The final report was submitted because the place where the woman went missing was out of our jurisdiction,” said Rajesh Kumar Soni, SHO .