Rajasthan's missing nurse asked to report on duty

The notice warned Bhanwari, absent from office since Aug 25, of departmental action if she did not report back on duty, Bhanwari's husband Amarchand told IANS Tuesday.

The notice was from the medical officer of the Bilara block here where the auxiliary nurse and midwife used to work at a government health centre before she disappeared Sep 1.
From Aug 25 to 31 she was seen in her house at Borunda village near Bilara.

"She has been told to report back on duty soon and the department has warned her of stern action in case of failure to do so," Amarchand said.

"I had already registered a first information report with the police saying that my wife had been kidnapped. Despite that the notice was served," said Amarchand.

The police stepped up efforts to trace Bhanwari after the Rajasthan High Court Monday told the police to undertake "more serious efforts" in search of her.

The notice was dispatched before the court had issued such orders, a medical and health department official said on condition of anonymity.

A group of villagers attacked the police when it went to Kaparda village near Bilara Tuesday in search of Balia, a key suspect in Bhanwari's kidnapping.

"Four policemen sustained injuries. When they tried to get out of the village in the car, its windows were also smashed by the villagers," said a police officer.

Police have so far arrested a government contractor from Bilara area. They had also detained three youths from Sikar district, but later let them off due to lack of evidence.
During interrogation, the name of Shahbuddin, a resident of Pipad area here and a mechanic by profession, also came up.

The court Sep 24 directed police to include Maderna as an accused and probe his role under sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Rajasthan government also ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the case.