Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Networ - Kasargod
Kasargod, Jun 26: A family of five which had gone missing nearly a month-and-a-half ago has finally been traced in Madikeri, Karnataka and brought back to Badiadka.
Uday (35), his wife, Prema (20), their children, Srijit (4) and Sangeeta (2) as well as Prema's younger sister, Ramya (15), all from Kuntalumoole, Badiadka, had gone missing without a trace on May 15. A case was registered in Badiadka police station.
Now, the police have found the family in Madikeri and brought them back to Kasargod. The mystery behind their disappearance and what they were doing in Madikeri would be known only after thorough interrogation, police said, adding that after their statements are recorded, they would be produced before the judge.
It is said that the family had roamed around several places in Dakshina Kannda district and Madikeri over the past one-and-a-half months. In an effort to trace the five, the Kasargod police had searched in Ujire, Dharmasthala, Udupi and other places, but in vain.
A special team led by Kasargod DySP was formed to hunt down the family. Finally, with the help of the cyber cell, the family was traced. As the missing persons' mobile phones were switched off, the police had difficulty in locating them.
However, from past two days, one of their mobile phones was found to be switched on, and the police traced the number to Madanadu near Madikeri. The missing family was found in some relatives' house there. It is learnt that the relatives did not know that they had disappeared from Badiadka. They police took the five into custody and brought them to their hometown.
Meanwhile, seeking speedy probe into the case, Prema's mother Chandravati had planned to submit a habeas corpus petition in the court. Several organizations too had got ready to protest against the police.