Letter adds new twist to missing girl’s case

Nearly a month after Rachna Rai, a college student and daughter of a social activist couple, went missing...

Nearly a month after Rachna Rai, a college student and daughter of a social activist couple, went missing from neighbouring Bhadohi district, a letter purportedly written by her from Chandigarh has given a new twist to the case.

The letter in Hindi sent by registered post was received on Monday by Bhadohi Police (Kotwali) as well as Rachna’s father V K Rai, the founder secretary of Centre for Environment and Rural Technology, an NGO. While the police say the letter has been sent to a handwriting expert, Rai claims it’s part of a conspiracy to stall his campaign in support of a Dalit girl, allegedly sexually exploited by a rich carpet exporter for over two decades.

The letter addressed to V K Rai states that Rachna is safe and happy, and there is no need to worry. Any attempt to track her through the police will result in her father losing Rachna forever. However, there are glaring gaps. “While the handwriting does not match with Rachna’s writing, the letter addresses me as Pitaji. But Rachna always addressed me as Papa,” said Rai. “While the police got the letter in the afternoon, I received it at around 6.30 pm. Within 10 minutes a police team came and took it away for examination. How did they know I had got a letter even before I contacted them?”

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IGP (Varanasi zone) Pravin Singh confirmed that Bhadohi police, too, received the registered letter but he refused to divulge details. Police were working on all angles, including the possibility of Rachna not being abducted, but instead leaving Bhadohi along with a young relative.

Meanwhile, a National Commission for Women team ,headed by its members Manju S Hembrom and Yasmin Abrar with counsel Yogesh Mehta, visited Bhadohi on Monday.

Rachna Rai, 20, went missing from Bhadohi on February 5, two days before her parents Pushpa and V K Rai were to stage a demonstration for the Dalit girl’s cause.

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