Court orders SIT to investigate police's role in disappearance of mentally unstable woman

The Kolkata High Court has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the disappearance of 27-year-old Rakhi Roy, a mentally unstable woman from Jalpaiguri, who has been missing for seven months. The court’s order follows concerns about the police's handling of her case, specifically their decision to send her on a bus after she was found, instead of ensuring her safe return to her family.

Rakhi Roy, a resident of Panda Para in Jalpaiguri, was reported missing by her father, Pintu Roy, a daily wage laborer, in April 2024. The family had not heard from her for some time, leading to the filing of a missing person’s report. Subsequently, the Alipurduar Women’s Police Station informed the family that Rakhi had been found. On the night of the discovery, the police contacted the family to notify them that Rakhi was located. However, when the family arrived at the police station the next morning to pick her up, the police informed them that Rakhi had been put on a bus the previous night.

Despite repeated attempts by the family to locate Rakhi, she has not been found. Pintu Roy, in his search, filed a second missing person’s report with the police, but no concrete information has been provided regarding her whereabouts. The police informed the family that they had no further updates on the case after the incident. According to the complaint filed by the family, the decision to send Rakhi, a mentally unstable individual, on a bus without any escort or proper safety measures has raised significant concerns.

On November 26, the Kolkata High Court reviewed the case after the family approached the court for legal assistance. The division bench, consisting of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Parthasarathi Chattopadhyay, questioned the police’s actions. They sought an explanation for why a vulnerable person, who was mentally unstable, was not safely escorted back home or provided with necessary care. The court expressed concern that Rakhi was sent on a bus without sufficient supervision, which could have led to her further disappearance.

Following this, the court instructed the police superintendents of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts to form an SIT to investigate Rakhi's disappearance. The SIT has been tasked with investigating the circumstances under which Rakhi was sent on a bus, reviewing the police’s actions, and locating her. The court emphasized the urgency of the matter and directed the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into the case.