Koderma Police Launch Intensive Search for 10 Missing Birhor Tribal Children
In a deeply concerning development, the Koderma police in Jharkhand have officially registered a case and constituted a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to locate ten young children from the Birhor tribal community who have been missing since February 1. The children, whose ages range from five to eight years, hail from the Gadiyai Birhor hamlet, a settlement of approximately fifty families located within the jurisdiction of the Jainagar police station.
Disappearance After Community Feast Sparks Panic
The incident unfolded when the children accompanied their families to a feast in Parsabad, a village situated roughly three kilometers from their own hamlet. While the adults returned home after the event, the children did not. Initially, families assumed the youngsters might have stayed behind with relatives or were simply playing in the vicinity. However, as days elapsed with no sign of their return, a wave of panic and distress swept through the close-knit Birhor community.
The Birhors are officially recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), representing one of the most marginalized and at-risk populations within the state of Jharkhand. This status adds a critical layer of urgency to the search efforts.
Official Complaint and Police Mobilization
After several agonizing days, the parents of the missing children approached Rajendra Prasad Yadav, the head of the Berogai panchayat. Yadav promptly alerted the local block development office and the police authorities. A formal complaint was officially lodged with the Jainagar police station on Friday, with the distraught parents pleading for the safe and swift recovery of their children.
In immediate response, Koderma Superintendent of Police Anudeep Singh announced the formation of a dedicated SIT to spearhead the investigation. "A high-level special investigation team has been formed to track the children," stated SP Singh, underscoring the seriousness with which the police are treating the case.
Identities of the Missing Children
The ten missing children have been identified as:
- Nisha Kumari (7 years) and Ramesh Kumar (5 years), children of Rajesh Birhor.
- Sajni Birhor (8 years), daughter of Kela Birhor.
- Birju, Mithun, Shivani, and Kalpana, all children of Dhanku Birhor.
- Rekha Birhor (8 years), daughter of Suresh Birhor.
- Anisha Birhor (6 years), daughter of Budhan Birhor.
Community and Official Calls for Urgent Action
The case has triggered alarm beyond the immediate community. Kedarnath Yadav, a local zila parishad member, has called for immediate and aggressive police action. He highlighted that a series of recent child disappearance incidents across Jharkhand has created an atmosphere of heightened fear and urgency among vulnerable populations.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rati Bhan Singh provided an update on the operational response, telling media, "Several teams have been formed on the instructions of the SP. We have begun a probe and will recover them soon." Police officials also visited the Gadiyai Birhor hamlet on Friday to assess the situation firsthand and gather initial information.
The formation of the SIT marks a critical escalation in the search for the ten missing Birhor children, with authorities under significant pressure to deliver results for one of Jharkhand's most vulnerable communities.
