Missing woman's mother on indefinite fast

Demanding immediate steps to trace a 22-year-old Dalit woman who had gone missing a year ago, her mother has launched an indefinite hunger strike in front of Kandhamal district collector's office here.

"The hunger strike entered fourth day today. If the administration makes further delay in tracing my daughter, I will go for self-immolation," said Pravasini Nayak, the mother of Mamata Nayak, who is missing since April 9, 2014.

Hailing from Jiringpada village, Mamata was working as a Gram Rojagar Sevak for Kusumendi Gram Panchayat in Kandhamal and was deputed to Subalaya village under Nayagarh district during last general election.

She remained untraced since then, police said.

An FIR was lodged by her mother with Phulbani Town police on April 15 last year.

After initial investigation work by the local police, a special investigation team was formed, headed by DSP BC Dash, which conducted the investigation very thoroughly and interrogated about 200 people. However, no success has been achieved yet, the police said.

When contacted, Kandhamal SP K V Singh said, "As we have been unable to trace the girl so far, the Crime Branch of Police has been requested to take up the matter."

Mamata's family members, however, said they are not satisfied with the police action.