Dr. Amlan Bhoi, a government physician from Kalimela Community Health Centre (CHC) in Malkangiri district, was found by police in Karnataka, many days after he vanished from his official residence. Said to have been taken hostage by Maoists, Dr. Bhoi is reportedly safe and in good condition.
Dr. Bhoi disappeared from his quarters on June 1. He had completed his hospital duty and returned home that afternoon, but was found missing the next morning. The authorities at the CHC reported his absence to the Kalimela police, prompting a full investigation and search operation.
During the initial investigation, police discovered a letter and some posters at Dr. Bhoi’s residence, allegedly from Maoists, along with one of his mobile phones. However, Malkangiri SDPO Sachin Patel quickly dismissed the Maoist involvement, stating that the letter was fake. He noted that Maoists usually inform the media within 24 hours if they abduct someone, which did not happen in this case.
Further complicating matters, on Monday, police suggested that Dr. Bhoi’s disappearance might be related to his involvement in betting during the recently concluded IPL season. Despite these claims, the police kept all options open and continued their search.
Dr. Bhoi's parents had approached the Malkangiri administration, requesting for help in locating their son. Meanwhile, a team of district police officers left for Karnataka to retrieve Dr. Bhoi. On Wednesday, Malkangiri SP Nitish Badhwani confirmed that Dr. Bhoi had been found in Mysuru and was being brought back to Malkangiri. He emphasized that the doctor was safe and sound and reiterated that initial findings did not support the kidnapping theory.
The investigation revealed that Dr. Bhoi might have been abducted to perform a post-mortem on an unidentified body in Karnataka. This new angle shifted the focus away from the earlier speculation of Maoist involvement.
Kandhamal native Dr. Bhoi had been employed at the Kalimela CHC since January. The authorities eventually disputed the early accusations of rebel involvement after finding a written Maoist poster on the CHC's verandah. The theory that Dr. Bhoi's disappearance was caused in part by Maoists was not supported by the evidence they discovered. When Dr. Bhoi returns to Malkangiri and is able to provide a complete account of his trauma, the police have stated that more details will become available.
(Inputs from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
