Forest watcher missing case: Human Rights Commission orders further probe led by District Police Chief

PALAKKAD: The State Human Rights Commission has ordered that the Palakkad District Crime Branch should conduct a further probe efficiently under the leadership of the District Police Chief to find PP Rajan, who went missing while working as a temporary forest watcher. Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas gave instructions to the Palakkad District Police Chief in this regard. Rajan went missing on May 3, 2022.

The order came after the District Crime Branch DySP informed the Commission that a report was submitted in the court stating that Rajan remains undetected. The Crime Branch officer who appeared in the sitting informed the Commission that although such a report was submitted in the court, the DMPT Unit under the District Crime Branch will continue the investigation. The action was taken on the complaint lodged by Rekha Raj, the daughter of PP Rajan.

The Commission received the report from the Agali DySP. The DySP stated that the Agali police had registered a case (Crime number 113/22) regarding the incident. The report stated that a special team led by the Agali inspector conducted an investigation into the incident. It further stated that although local, Anti-Naxal and Thunderbolts team members, as well as forest officials led by the Mukkali Range Officer, conducted searches in the forest region, they were not able to find any useful hints regarding the case.

A dhoti, torch, a pair of footwear and two paracetamol tablets, said to be used by Rajan, have been found. Fingerprints suspected to be those of wild animals were also found at the spot. Since the area had witnessed heavy rain the day before Rajan went missing, it is essential to ensure that the fingerprints belong to wild animals. The matter has been brought to the attention of Forest Department authorities. The report also stated that clarity will be brought to the matter with the help of a Veterinary Medical Officer.