Seven-year-old Ishank Patnayak, who was discovered in a pitiable condition near Nepal House at Ranchi, is stranded at shelter home - Child line - at Kokar as police’s investigation is moving at a snail’s pace, child rights body remains ignorant and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) is crippled by its own limitations.
The child was discovered on December 5 in an appalling condition with injury marks all over the body near the Nepal House secretariat of Jharkhand and is claimed to have been rescued by locals and police personnel deployed at the administrative building. Ishank had reportedly spilled the beans about inhuman treatment by his foster parents, who are Doctors by profession, but no suo motu cognizance was taken by the police and yet no action has been taken.
To the chagrin of the child his union with the parents and relatives is getting delayed due to cumbersome investigation process. Ishank who hails from Rourkela, Odisha, now has to wait until the foster parent he mentioned in his testimony before the CWC are arrested to unite with family members devastated since he left the house. The boy was produced before the CWC on December 6.
“We have collected all evidences however the boy will be sent to his home only after the culprits are arrested.
We will soon take action,” said CWC chairperson in-charge, Jahan Ara.
Stranded, Ishank’s only hope now rests on the police’s investigation which is yet to reach its logical conclusion. Alas, despite a first-information-report (FIR) filed with the Doranda police the doctor couple are out of the police’s net and their views are yet to be recorded. The incident however came to light about a fortnight ago.
“We have filed FIR three to four days back. We need to know the view of the other person like how they got possession of the child. Arrest can be made only after knowing every aspects (of the case),” maintained City SP, Anoop Birtharay.
Nonetheless, the CWC is still awaiting a copy of the FIR lodged with the Doranda police and their information regarding charges slapped against the duo — Polly and lalita — named by Ishank in complain made to the police is too limited to verify that the investigations are heading on right course.
Notwithstanding the police’s own methods of investigation the troubled child is yet to get attention of the supreme child rights body — State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The quasi-judicial body is still mulling actions to end the ordeal of the child who is waiting at the shelter home to see the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.
“We will look into the matter and why the case is getting delayed at the police’s end,” said Member SCPCR, Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
Ishank is a runway child and has been away from his family for over two-years. Their parents had registered a missing complaint at the Jhinkpani police station in West Singhbhum district and subsequently the child reached the foster parents through the CWC Jamshedpur, claim sources.