HC directs Bihar govt to file status report on kidnappings

Patna, Aug 9 (UNI) The Patna High Court today directed Bihar government to file status report on kidnappings in the state by October one, stating in details the action taken in connection with these cases so far.

A division bench of the court, comprising Justices J N Bhatt and Mihir Kumar Jha issued the directive to the state government during the hearing of a petition in connection with kidnapping of a school student 'Golu'.

The court had taken suo motu decision on the basis of news reports about the kidnapping of Golu, a few years back.

In its affidavit filed in the court, Bihar government informed that altogether 1,204 cases of kidnapping were pending at various district courts across the state. While the reports filed by the various district courts to Patna High Court indicated that 1514 cases were pending at various stages across the state.

During the hearing, state advocate general P K Shahi informed the court that 304 kidnapped children were still untraced out of which 165 were girls.

Finding the difference in figures stated by the Bihar government and by various district courts, the bench directed the state government to file comparative chart of the kidnapping cases with clarity.

UNI