Father hints at youth’s role in lady cop’s disappearance

Bhubaneswar: The whereabouts of woman traffic constable Subhamitra Sahoo (25) remained unknown even after 10 days, with her father on Monday suspecting the possible involvement of a youth, serving with the commissionerate police, in her disappearance.“I have informed the police about my suspicion and urged them to include him in their investigation. He was last seen with my daughter at a temple,” said Subhamitra’s father Duryadhan. Subhamitra, who served at the DCP (traffic) office, was last seen on duty on Sept 6. Her mother, Sukanti, lodged a missing complaint at Capital police station the next day.“I feel the youth, who is employed with the police department, may have abducted my daughter in his car. I believe questioning him could lead to significant breakthrough,” Duryadhan said.He also sought assistance from the constable and havildar association in the search for his daughter. “I met the office-bearers of the association and sought their intervention,” he said.Duryadhan emphasised that Subhamitra had no family or work-related issues. “We are deeply concerned for her safety. She had no problems at home or her workplace,” he said, adding, “Despite numerous CCTV cameras in Bhubaneswar, the police are yet to locate her.”In a social media post, Congress state president Bhakta Charan Das criticised the police for allegedly struggling to locate an employee of their own department.Police sources said Subhamitra left her mobile phone at her rented home in Surya Nagar, complicating efforts to trace her. Investigators are examining her call detail records and social media interactions for clues. On the day she went missing, she reported for duty at 10 am, with her shift ending at 7 pm. But she never returned home.“We are doing everything possible to trace her. Everyone who was last seen with her is being questioned. We have also announced a Rs 25,000 reward for credible information regarding her whereabouts,” DCP Jagmohan Meena told TOI.