Police are still clueless about the constable who went missing from Ardh Kumbh mela duty since the last week of January this year. The mela police’s efforts to trace him in the neighbouring districts have come a cropper. Success eluding them, police department has finally asked for the bank account details from his relatives to locate him.
Janakraj Chowbey, resident of Tanakpur, had gone missing from Bairagi camp while on mela duty. He had come from Bageshwar. After the duty during the first mela snan on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on 14 January, he had applied for leave which was accepted.
It is learnt that three- day leave was granted on 17 January. After finishing his leave, Janakraj was to join back in police line on 21 January, but he did not turn up. After around four days when he did not turn up the mela police enquired at his home. The police were informed that he had not reached his home. His mobile phone was also found switched off. Kankhal police station was asked to locate the missing constable.
Police searched all the neighbouring areas of Bijnor, Saharanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Shyamli. Even pamphlets containing his photo were distributed in the region. However, nearly two months having elapsed, no clue has been found of Janakraj.
Speaking to The Pioneer, IG Ardh Kumbh Mela G S Martolia said, “We have completed now all the missing formalities of the constable. Since his mobile is switched off, the only option left lies through the bank account. We have asked for the account details from the bank. As soon as any transaction is made the location can be traced out.”