Bhubaneswar: The mother and brother of the tribal student of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, Rama Chandra, who had been missing since 2015, met the State ST and SC Development Minister, Ramesh Majhi today.
“Three years have passed, Rama Chandra hasn’t come home. The Minister assured us that he will discuss the matter with the district Collector and SP and take action accordingly,” said brother of the missing Bonda student after meeting the Minister.
“I will discuss the matter with the KISS authorities. As an FIR has also been filed at the police station, investigation will be carried out," said Majhi, adding that Police will definitely try to trace the whereabouts of the boy and under what circumstances he went missing.
He further added that although the incident took place three years back, his mother and brother brought the matter to his notice today and it will be been taken up seriously.
According to sources, Rama Chandra had come to KISS to pursue higher education after completing primary schooling. But he went missing in 2015.
While the family members alleged that Rama Chandra didn’t return home from school, the institute authorities claim that the student had gone home during the summer vacations and didn’t come back.
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Meanwhile, a forum representing the parents and guardians of KISS students of Malkangiri have alleged that various media agencies are spreading false rumours on the missing student.
Protesting such alleged attempts, the members of the forum took out a rally in the town today and submitted a memorandum to the SP.
“Spreading false rumours on disappearance of Rama Chandra is not good. He did not go missing from KISS but rather he first met his parents before vanishing,” said president of the forum, Mukund Madkami.
Police said that actual facts will come out once the statements of family members of Rama Chandra, his neighbours, villagers and authorities of KISS are recorded.
“We will check the exact dates of his admission, his return from the institute and the date he went missing,” Malkangiri SP, Jagmohan Meena said.
Meanwhile, OTV, clearing its stance on the matter stated, "The report on the missing Bonda student of KISS - Ram Chandra Mandhra was first telecasted on April 26 after the missing boy's mother and family members informed our reporter, following which we enquired about the matter with ‘Bonda Unnayan Sanstha’ and KISS authorities. Two days later, Rama Chandra's mother lodged an FIR at Mudulipada police station and yesterday filed a petition in the Orissa High Court. Surprisingly, Bonda Janajati Samaj today lodged a complaint alleging that both Rama Chandra’s mother Budai Mandhra, and his brother Sania Mandhra have been kidnapped on April 29 and four persons including a cameraman of OTV is involved in the case. However, such allegations are totally false as Ram Chandra's mother was present before media while making her allegations and today she was seen meeting the minister in Bhubaneswar seeking help. In view of this, the allegations are completely false and seem to have been made at someone's behest."
Moreover, the Bonda Janajati Samaj, in its complaint letter, has also blamed Kendrapara MP Jay Panda for being involved in kidnapping of Rama Chandra.
However, the MP is yet to comment on the issue.