Search for 4-yr-old Sana Fathima proves futile on Day 5 too; suo motu case registered

Kasaragod, Aug 8: The search to trace 4-year-old Sana Fathima, who is feared to have been swept away in a swollen stream, joining an adjoining river, at Panathur here, proved futile on fifth day too.

Expert divers on Monday braved the rough weather and downpour to search the flooded river extensively. The search was called off at 4 p.m. because of fading light, M. Sunil Kumar, Vellarikundu Circle Inspector said.

However, local people have raised apprehensions about the girl being abducted by a nomadic group. The police have alerted stations across Kerala and Karnataka, he said.

Panel concern

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has registered a suo motu case expressing deep concern over the failure to trace the girl.

The Commission, taking into account media reports, has asked the Superintendent of Police and the district Child Protection Officer to furnish within 15 days the progress of the search efforts, an official release here said.

Sana Fathima, daughter of Ibrahim, an autorickshaw driver, went missing from near the stream close to her residence at Bapunkayam near Panathur around 4 p.m. on Thursday.