Ranchi protests over missing 18-month-old girl, NH blocked at Koker Chowk
Synopsis
Four days after 18-month-old Aditi Pandey vanished near her Ranchi home, her family and residents blocked the National Highway at Koker Chowk demanding answers. With disputed bone evidence, a ₹50,000 reward, and an NDRF river search yielding nothing, the case has exposed a deep rift between the family and police over the investigation's direction.
Key Takeaways
Aditi Pandey , aged 18 months , has been missing from Ranchi since 9 May at approximately 4:30 pm .
Protesters blocked traffic at Koker Chowk on the National Highway for nearly one hour on 13 May .
Ranchi Police announced a reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to the child's recovery.
A joint NDRF , municipal corporation, and police search from Koker Khorhatoli to the Swarnarekha river found no trace of the girl.
A bone found near a drain in Garhi village was reportedly identified as belonging to an animal during post-mortem examination, according to the family.
The family has alleged police are pursuing the drain theory without concrete evidence.
Residents and family members of Aditi Pandey, an 18-month-old girl who has been missing for four days, staged a massive protest in Ranchi on Wednesday, 13 May, blocking traffic at Koker Chowk and demanding her immediate recovery. The demonstration brought the National Highway to a near-standstill for close to an hour, severely disrupting vehicular movement across the area.
How the Protest Unfolded
Protesters gathered at Koker Chowk and blocked traffic for nearly one hour, causing massive congestion on the adjoining National Highway. On receiving information about the blockade, personnel from the Sadar police station and the traffic police rushed to the spot and began diverting vehicles through alternative routes to ease the gridlock.
When and Where Aditi Went Missing
Aditi Pandey reportedly went missing from near her home around 4:30 pm on 9 May. Despite extensive search efforts over four days, no trace of her has been found. Her family subsequently lodged a formal complaint at the Sadar police station.
Search Operations and Police Response
Taking the matter seriously, Ranchi Police constituted multiple search teams and announced a reward of ₹50,000 for any information leading to her recovery. During initial investigations, police suspected the child may have fallen into a nearby large drain. Acting on this theory, a joint team comprising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the municipal corporation, and Ranchi Police conducted an intensive search operation stretching from Koker Khorhatoli to the Swarnarekha river near Namkum, continuing for several hours through sludge, filth, and strong water currents.
Disputed Evidence Deepens Family's Anguish
On Tuesday, the discovery of a piece of flesh and a bone near a drain in the Garhi village area fuelled suspicion that the remains could be linked to the missing child. However, the family has disputed this claim, stating that doctors conducting the post-mortem examination concluded that the bone belonged to an animal. The family has alleged that the police are attempting to push the case towards the drain theory despite the absence of any concrete evidence. Several police teams are continuing their search, but have so far not met with success.
What Happens Next
With public anger mounting and the family openly questioning the direction of the investigation, pressure on Ranchi Police to produce results is intensifying. The case has drawn wider attention to the safety of children in residential areas near open drainage infrastructure, and the coming days will be critical in determining whether the search yields any conclusive findings.
Point of View
Institutional focus often narrows to the most convenient theory rather than the most credible one. The family's public rejection of the bone evidence — backed, they say, by a post-mortem finding — signals a breakdown in trust between investigators and the victim's kin that could hamper the search itself. Ranchi's open drainage infrastructure, running through dense residential zones, is a hazard that has surfaced in incidents before; this case may force a harder civic reckoning. The ₹50,000 reward is a standard tool, but four days in with no lead, the police need to demonstrate a wider investigative canvas — not just a drain theory.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aditi Pandey and when did she go missing?
Aditi Pandey is an 18-month-old girl from Ranchi, Jharkhand, who reportedly went missing from near her home at around 4:30 pm on 9 May. Despite extensive search operations over four days, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Why did protesters block the National Highway in Ranchi?
Family members and residents blocked traffic at Koker Chowk on the National Highway on 13 May to demand the recovery of the missing toddler Aditi Pandey. The blockade lasted nearly one hour before police diverted vehicles through alternative routes.
What search operations have been conducted to find the missing child?
A joint team of the NDRF, the municipal corporation, and Ranchi Police conducted an intensive search from Koker Khorhatoli to the Swarnarekha river near Namkum, based on the theory that the child may have fallen into a drain. The operation continued for several hours but found no trace of the girl.
What is the significance of the bone found near the drain in Garhi village?
A piece of flesh and a bone were found near a drain in Garhi village on Tuesday, raising suspicion of a link to the missing child. However, the family stated that doctors during the post-mortem examination concluded the bone belonged to an animal, not a human child.
Has Ranchi Police offered any reward for information about the missing girl?
Yes, Ranchi Police announced a reward of ₹50,000 for any information leading to the recovery of Aditi Pandey. Multiple police teams have been constituted to trace the child, but no breakthrough has been reported so far.
