Could Ankit Still be Alive? Key Accused Changes his Story
Patna: May 10, 2007
In an emotional roller coaster for the family members of the victim, the key accused who admitted kidnapping, killing, and burying Ankit, the 6-year old boy from Patna who went missing nearly a month ago, changed his account on Thursday saying the boy was still alive but he did not know his whereabouts.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kundan Krishnan, while talking to media in Patna, said Balram Paswan, the domestic help of the victim's family, changed his story on Thursday and now admits he is not certain if Ankit was killed or not by his partner in crime Sanjay Rajak.
The latest turn in the event came after the state police, with the help of dozens of hired hands, dug up a large portion of a ghat at Saryu river in Saran district on Wednesday where Paswan said he had buried the body of the 6-year old Ankit after strangling him to death.
Authorities have failed to unearth any human remains from the area indicated by Paswan.
The reaction at the victim's family in Alamganj in Patna City was that of utter disbelief and denial.
"We don't know what to believe and what not to," said Ankit's Grandfather Jagdish Prasad adding everyone had been praying for the safe return of Ankit and this latest development has given him some glimmer of hope again that the boy may still be alive.
"This is far from over", said the SSP adding the police were doing everything in their might to find out the truth.
Meanwhile, raids are being conducted to apprehend Sanjay Rajak, Paswan's partner in crime. "God willing, Ankit may still be with him," said a police official.
Ankit was abducted by Paswan from outside his school on April 12.
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