Khar cops register kidnapping case

Following MiD DAY's story on Monday (7-year-old girl goes missing, cops refuse to register case), the Khar police have finally registered a case of kidnapping, five days after Saniya Sheikh went missing. MiD DAY had reported about the Khar police's refusal to register Saniya's case after she went missing from her school last Thursday.

Making Headway: The police have formed a special team to track down the accused and are looking into the mobile phone records of Naushad Sheikh's first wife, who is a suspect in the kidnapping ofu00a07-year-old Saniya Sheikh

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pratap Dighavkar said, "I have ordered a preliminary departmental inquiry on why the case was not taken. ACP Suresh Marathe of Khar Bandra division will investigate, and I will personally look into the matter." He added that the officer held responsible would be punished.

On Monday, the girl's father Naushad Sheikh was called to Khar police station in the afternoon and within a few hours, the police registered case under Section 363 (kidnapping) of the IPC. The police have also formed a special team to track down the accused and are looking into the mobile phone records of Sheikh's first wife, who is a suspect in the case. A team at Khar police station is ready to spring into action the moment they get any leads regarding the girl's location.

Speaking to MiD DAY, Sheikh said, "I am very thankful to MiD DAY for helping me. Now the police are co-operating properly, and are taking the case seriously. I just want my girl to be back safe, and nothing else."