There was no trace of a three-year-old girl who allegedly fell in a drain in southeast Delhi's Sriniwaspuri area on Thursday, even as rescue efforts continued for the second day.
Police are also questioning others in connection with the case as her brother's statement has been inconsistent. "It is also suspected that she might have been kidnapped but there is no proof to substantiate this theory," he said.
Kiran fell in the drain when she was playing with her five-year-old brother Sawan. When she was running around, she fell in the drain as a portion of the slab which was covering the drain was broken from the edge, said sources.
Rescue teams couldn't find Kiran even as police has registered a case under section 363 IPC (Punishment for kidnapping), said a senior police officer. "The drain in which Kiran fell is four feet wide and six inches in depth. The drain runs through the mohalla and it might have been possible that her body was swept by the water," he said.
The drain falls under the jurisdiction of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Meanwhile, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Friday issued a notice to SDMC over non-maintenance of the drain.
"The municipal corporation has been asked to explain the reasons for non-covering of the open portion of the drain and name of the officers responsible for maintenance of the drain and details of the action taken or proposed against the said officials," a DCW official said.
The girl's family had alleged that there were many complaints made to the concerned department about the open drain but nobody took any action.