The Tribune, Jamuary 28, 2004

No headway in missing woman, daughter case
Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 27
No headway has been made in the case of mysterious disappearance of a woman and her daughter. Congress municipal councillors of Ambala City today sought speedy action in the case of a missing woman Jeevan Lata and her daughter Nikita. The municipal councillors said the police was showing laxity in investigation. “It is a serious matter and prompt action must be taken,” they said. However, a police officer said the case did not fall within their jurisdiction.

“The woman and her daughter have disappeared from Samana in Punjab. Our team has already visited the place and we will extend all help to Punjab Police in carrying out investigation,” he said. Congress municipal councillors, including Inder Pal Singh Pammi, Dharam Pal Chadha, Bharat Ratan Sharma, Parvesh Sasan, Amisha Chawla, Vijay Bhasin, Vimla Sharma, Chander Mohini and Mahinder Tanwar, said the police must take action within the next 48 hours. “If no action is forthcoming, we will look at other options to ensure that justice is done. The truth must come out,” they said.

Mr Ashok Jain, husband of Jeevan Lata, said he was unhappy with the police inaction. “I just hope that the culprit is brought to book. If my wife and daughter have been driven to suicide, then suitable action must be taken against the culprit for forcing them to take such a drastic step,” he said. He said on January 11 while he was away on tour to Ahmedabad, his wife told him that she was distressed. “My wife had been sexually assaulted by a rice sheller owner, who had become friendly with our family during my son’s illness,” he said. “My son, Tarun, who had accompanied his mother and sister to Samana, said both of them urged him to stay back since they wanted to drop some articles in the Bhakra canal. Later, Tarun saw them jumping into the canal. My wife had handed over her jewellery and money to Tarun before taking the extreme step. She had told him that the culprit must be brought to book,” Mr Jain said. Despite considerable effort, no clues had been found about the missing woman and her daughter.