Odisha man consumes poison after police ‘fails’ to trace abducted daughter

In a disturbing turn of events, a man in Kendrapara district allegedly attempted to kill himself by consuming poison after failing to trace his abducted minor daughter despite repeated appeals to the police.

Sources reported that the incident took place on Thursday in Chakada-Gogua village under the Tantiapal Marine Police Station limits. The man was identified as Kalpataru Ojha.

According to reports, Ojha had been seeking the recovery of his daughter, a minor, who was allegedly abducted by Rajendra Jena, a youth from the same village, on May 27. 

Despite filing a written complaint at the local police station, he alleged that officers failed to take meaningful action beyond registering the case.

The father had reportedly also approached the Superintendent of Police (SP), Kendrapara, and received assurances of action. However, nearly one and a half months later, his daughter remains untraced, pushing him to the edge.

On Thursday, he allegedly consumed poison out of despair and was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where his condition remains critical as of the last reports.

Police Inaction Alleged

According to family members, they had approached local police, politicians, and even administrative officials in search of justice, but to no avail.

“He was shattered. For weeks, he ran from pillar to post for his daughter. No one helped. The police didn’t act. Today, he tried to end his life,” said a relative of Ojha.

Eyewitnesses in the village confirmed that the man had become increasingly distressed in recent weeks, especially after realising that his appeals to various forums had fallen on deaf ears. The delay in police action has triggered widespread criticism from residents of the area.

As of now, no formal statement has been released by the Kendrapara police on the delay in the investigation or the father’s attempt to kill himself. There has also been no update on the whereabouts of the abducted girl.