The Allahabad High Court has expressed disapproval of the conduct of police officials in handling abduction cases, noting that they often focus on cultivating a public image while failing to address citizens’ grievances. The remarks came during the hearing of a writ petition concerning the disappearance of a person in Varanasi.
The Division Bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Anil Kumar was hearing a petition filed by one Nitesh Kumar regarding the disappearance of his brother. The petitioner alleged that the police officials concerned in Varanasi had failed to trace the missing person despite being informed.
It was submitted before the Court that the authorities had shown indifference to the matter and no meaningful action had been taken by the police to locate the abducted individual.
The Bench observed that police officers carve out a larger-than-life image for themselves but shield themselves from addressing public grievances. It further noted that “police generally exhibit apathy in abduction/kidnapping cases, as no personal responsibility is fixed upon the officers.”
The Court also remarked that “this lack of accountability often results in an abduction tragically turning into a murder due to their inaction.” It stated that if “an abductee is not traced promptly and is eventually killed,” then “the responsibility, prima facie, must be fixed on the head of the police under whose jurisdiction the abduction or kidnapping report was made and which later resulted in fatal consequences because the victim was not recovered.”
The Court directed the State Government to file a reply in the matter and called for a personal affidavit from the Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, to be submitted on or before June 12, showing cause “why the abductee has not been recovered so far.”
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