11-year-old Puri boy missing since 2 weeks; Family and locals gherao police outpost

Panic and anguish continue to grip Ratanpur village in the Delanga area of Puri district, where an 11-year-old boy has been missing for the past two weeks. Despite repeated appeals and a formal police complaint, there has been no breakthrough in the case, leaving the family in deep distress and the local community increasingly agitated.

The missing child, Ashirbad Sahu, was last seen on April 5, playing near his home in Ratanpur village. Since then, there has been no trace of him. His family, unaware of where he could have gone, has been desperately searching for answers. However, their efforts have yielded no results, and their hopes now rest solely on police action.

Protest Intensify Over Slow Police Probe

What has added to the family’s frustration is the apparent lack of progress in the investigation. With no leads or significant updates from the police even after two weeks, the family, supported by locals, staged a strong protest demanding immediate action and accountability.

The residents of the Hatdelanga area took to the streets, blocking the main road in protest. Demonstrators, including the family members of the missing child, burnt tyres and raised slogans against police inaction. The protest caused heavy disruption to traffic and daily life in the area. The crowd later marched towards the local police station, gheraoing the outpost in a symbolic show of frustration.

“We are devastated. It has been 14 days, and there is still no sign of my son. We have no clue where he is or what has happened to him,” said Ashirbad’s father in an emotional plea to the media. He also criticized the authorities for their slow response, saying that not enough has been done to trace the boy.

Police officials have acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and assured that all efforts are being made to locate the missing child. 
“We are exploring all possible angles. CCTV footage, local leads, and call records are being examined. We understand the pain of the family and are committed to finding the boy,” said a senior officer from Delanga police station.

(By Dwitikrushna)