Missing girl's father alleges abduction by maternal uncle

NEW DELHI: The mysterious case of a missing 11-year-old child in Dabri, allegedly kidnapped from her house, on Thursday turned murkier. The father of the girl Shankar Jha, 35, who works for a private firm, has alleged that the girl has infact been kidnapped by her own uncle (Jha's cousin from the maternal side). Police said that they have registered a missing case and are carrying out investigations.
The incident occurred on August 6, when, reportedly the girl was alone in the house, unaccompanied by any adults. Jha alleged that, "Lakhsmi (name changed) was alone in the house, with three other younger sisters. My maternal cousin, Sonu Jha (28), came here and asked her to follow him out so that they she could meet her mother. Since then, she has not been traced. My cousin was spotted in front of my house in Dabri by my neighbours ," said Jha. He further alleged that Jha had eloped with his wife about a month back. "He has now taken away my daughter too," he alleged.
According to Jha, Lakshmi was taking care of her youngest sister, who was oneand-a-half months old. "Since, she has been kidnapped , I have been forced to leave my three other daughters in the care of my old mother in Bihar since I fear that they would be kidnapped too," he said. According to Jha, it was he who brought Sonu to Delhi and provided him work and shelter.
dwaipayan.ghosh@timesgroup .com