KHARKUTTA, July 22: The search and rescue operations for the missing six-year-old girl from Kharkutta in North Garo Hills (NGH) intensified on Tuesday, with the deployment of canine units and drones.
On July 18, the six-year-old, who was last seen outside her house at around 11 am, was suspected to have been kidnapped, leading to an extensive search of the area from where she went missing. The search involved personnel from the NGH police along with locals familiar with the terrain, but despite three days of efforts, the girl remained missing. The area is densely covered with vegetation, making search and rescue operations challenging.
The family had identified a well-known suspect with a history of such cases as the person behind the kidnapping, prompting even more intensive searches for both the victim and the suspect.
On Monday, NGH Superintendent of Police Swapnil Pawar stated that the search for the missing girl and the suspected kidnapper would be intensified with drone support being requested.
On Tuesday morning, personnel from Shillong and Tura arrived and led a 45-member police team comprising K-9 (canine) units, drones and SF-10 personnel in the effort to locate the victim and the accused.
“We intensified the search operations this morning with the teams being divided into units who conducted searches in new areas using drones as well as the K-9 units but returned empty-handed. Locals who know the terrain well were also involved in the search, and newly dug-up areas (where the child could have been buried) were also searched but without success,” said Pawar, while speaking on the developments.
The search operations will continue tomorrow, with a new area in the hilly terrain identified as the next target for the search party.
“We have been advised not to go into the area as there were sightings of elephants there. We are seeking assistance from the forest and wildlife team to help us tomorrow in the continuing operations. We are hopeful of a breakthrough soon,” stated the SP, who added that the search for the victim and the suspect is being carried out through multiple channels.
