Officer traced after 'birthday surprise trip’ to friend in Saran

Patna: A woman block technology manager (BTM) posted at Athmalgola block in Patna district, who went missing on Friday, was traced by police within 24 hours of her husband’s complaint. The officer, identified as Aaryma Dipti, had left for Saran district to surprise a friend on her birthday without informing anyone, officials said. She is posted in the agriculture department.According to police, Dipti was last in touch with her family around 4pm on Friday after returning home from work. Her location was initially traced to Usmanpur in the Athmagola police station area that evening, and her phone was later switched on in Fatuha the next morning. CCTV footage also captured her at Bakhtiyarpur railway station.Acting on a written complaint lodged by her husband, Shubham Kumar, on Saturday, police launched an immediate search. Using technical surveillance and human intelligence, the team tracked her movements and recovered her around 4am on Sunday from Saran district. “During questioning, Dipti said she had gone to surprise her friend, Anjali Kumari alias Goldi Kumari, at Masrakh in Saran, on the occasion of her birthday. She left for Saran without informing anyone,” said Barh SDPO-I Anand Kumar Singh said on Sunday.“Her cellphone switched off due to low battery, which prevented her from contacting the family members. She further clarified that she attended her office in Athmalgola on the day of the incident, and her phone switched off shortly afterward,” he said.Addressing rumours circulating about her being accompanied by a male companion or lover, the SDPO said that no such evidence emerged during the investigation. “Neither technical nor human sources supported these claims, and the officer made no mention of any such person in her statement,” Singh said, adding that the matter is now closed following her safe return and statement.Dipti and Shubham, a chartered accountant, got married on Dec 4 in Begusarai district. They went to Nepal for their honeymoon and returned on Dec 20, after which she joined duty.