Two inmates of Bihar's Aasra shelter home go missing

A city-based shelter home for mentally challenged women which was in news recently for the death of two of its inmates has reported the missing of two more women from the facility, police said today.

Aasra shelter home, situated in Rajeev Nagar police station area, had hit the headlines earlier this month when two of its inmates had fallen ill and were declared brought dead at the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

"Two women, both in their early 30s, went missing yesterday. The shelter home authorities made a frantic search for a few hours before reporting the matter to the police," Rohan Kumar, SHO, Rajeev Nagar police station, said.

"We are perusing the CCTV footage of the shelter home to get clues about the exact time when the two women had stepped out and other relevant details," he said.

Manisha Dayal and Chirantan Kumar, who ran the NGO entrusted with running the shelter home, were arrested following an outcry against the death of the two inmates.

The state Social Welfare department, which drew a lot of flak over the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, had then deputed its own personnel at the Aasra shelter home as an interim measure for its upkeep.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Law and Order, Patna, Manoj Kumar Sudhanshu said investigations were on in the matter.

"We have learnt from the records of the shelter home that the two women - who like the other inmates were mentally challenged - had made unsuccessful escape bids in the past. We are hopeful of tracking them soon," he said.