Darbhanga’s ‘Dead’ Teen Returns Alive After 68 Days; Two Jailed in Wrongful Case

Darbhanga: In a dramatic twist to a case that was considered closed nearly two months ago, 17-year-old Bhola Kumar Ram, who was believed to have been kidnapped and later cremated, returned alive to a local court on Thursday evening, sending shockwaves through the police department and the community.

Bhola, a resident of Simra village under Mabbhi police station, had gone missing on February 8, and his family had performed his last rites after identifying an unidentified body as his. The government even extended a compensation of ₹4 lakh to the grieving family. However, the boy’s sudden reappearance has exposed a series of administrative failures and investigative negligence.

The Return: Stir in Civil Court

At around 6:30 pm on Thursday, Bhola walked into the Darbhanga Civil Court with his lawyer, Mukesh Kumar Rai. Upon receiving this news, Mabbhi SHO Sunil Kumar rushed to the court, and the police handed Bhola over to his family on the court’s direction. His father, a daily-wage laborer, was present to receive him.

According to lawyer Rai, Bhola’s elder brother Dhiraj received a phone call around five to seven days ago. The caller claimed that Bhola was alive and made a video call to prove it. Dhiraj then traveled to Nepal to bring his brother back and surrendered him through legal channels.

Abduction, Not Death

Bhola recounted that he had been playing in the Raj Campus of Darbhanga on February 8 when two individuals approached him and made him inhale something from a handkerchief, causing him to fall unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in Nepal, where he was allegedly held for over two months.

The Case That Shouldn’t Have Closed

Bhola’s family had initially tried to file a missing person complaint at the local police station, but the SHO at the time, Deepak Kumar, allegedly refused to register the case. Days later, the family received a ransom call demanding ₹45,000, and though they paid ₹5,000, there was no further information.

On February 26, police found an injured youth near the Allapatti railway crossing. The unidentified body was admitted to DMCH hospital but succumbed to injuries on February 28. Bhola’s family mistakenly identified the body as his, and in protest over the handling of the case, they blocked a road near Azamnagar Durga Temple on March 1 and vandalized a police vehicle, demanding compensation.

Following the protest, officials assured action and provided compensation. The body was cremated, and the case was treated as a closed kidnapping and death incident.

Police Action and Missteps

In the aftermath, SSP Jagunath Reddy Jala Reddy ordered an inquiry and suspended SHO Deepak Kumar for his failure to file an FIR. An FIR was later registered, and five people were named, of whom two—now proven innocent—were jailed.

Bhola’s reappearance has now thrown the entire investigation into question. The wrongful incarceration, misidentification of a dead body, and mishandling of the kidnapping case raise serious concerns about the efficacy and accountability of the local police system.

What Lies Ahead

The incident is likely to spark calls for a deeper probe into the conduct of the police, the circumstances of Bhola’s kidnapping, and the real identity of the deceased youth who was cremated. Legal experts say this case could lead to charges of wrongful detention and administrative negligence.

For Bhola and his family, the return is bittersweet. While they rejoice at having their son back, the trauma of wrongful death, cremation, and a flawed investigation leaves deep emotional scars.