The Kerala High Court has suggested establishing a statewide alert mechanism to quickly disseminate information about missing individuals, aiming to improve search operations during the crucial “golden period.” The proposal came from a Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha while hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Santon Lama, who is seeking to trace his missing father, Suraj Lama.
Suraj had arrived in Kochi from Kuwait on October 5 and has been untraceable since then. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed under the High Court’s directives, is currently leading the inquiry into his disappearance.
Earlier, the Court had also brought the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Social Justice Department into the case to strengthen the investigation. The Bench highlighted the urgency of an effective information-sharing system that could reach every citizen promptly.
Expressing concern that Suraj might be close by but unable to reveal his identity, the Court stressed the need for a robust, statewide mechanism that could significantly improve the chances of locating missing persons quickly and efficiently.