Lanjigada: Police in Kalahandi’s Bijepur area are investigating an alleged abduction of a 15-year-old schoolgirl by a 28-year-old man from her village at Pajibahali. The girl, Purnima Harijan, a Class X student at Bengaon High School and daughter of Kapil Harijan of the village, went missing July 8 after failing to return home from school.
Her family said they searched among her friends, neighbours and relatives that evening but could not trace her. The family later learnt that Arju Majhi, son of Driku Majhi of the same village, had allegedly kidnapped the girl while she was returning from school.
The girl’s father subsequently filed a written complaint at Bijepur police station seeking action. Bijepur police station officer-in-charge Tulasiram Sabar said the two were believed to have travelled to Kerala.
A case (24/26) has been registered at Bijepur police station, and an investigation is underway, Sabar said.
