Patna, Dec. 9: Two police officers, including a deputy superintendent of police, have been issued showcause notices for allegedly trying to protect the accused in a kidnapping case.

Deputy inspector-general (DIG) of Shahabad range Mohammad Rahman issued the showcause notice to sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Ashok Kumar and sub-inspector Upendra Singh for "shielding" two men accused of kidnapping a minor girl from Tilauthu in Rohtas district.

While the SDPO is posted in Dehri, Singh is posted at Tilauthu police station in Rohtas district. The two officers have been asked to reply within three days, failing which stern disciplinary action would be initiated against them.

The case is related to the kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl from Tilauthu, around 25km southeast of Sasaram district headquarters town, on November 2 last year.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim's father, the incident took place when the girl was on way to a sewing training centre from her Maharajganj village.

The police disposed of the case and submitted the final report in the court within a month of the incident. The investigating officer, Upendra Singh, as well as the SDPO said in their respective reports that the charges against the prime accused were untrue.

Both the officers gave a clean chit to the accused on the basis of a certificate issued by Sasaram Sadar hospital, which mentioned the girl's age between 25 and 26 years, contrary to what was mentioned in her matriculation certificate issued by the Bihar School Examination Board.

Accusing the officers of acting in collusion with the accused, the girl's father, Ravindra Nath Pandey, met the DIG recently, seeking his intervention in the case. The DIG ordered the Rohtas superintendent of police to re-investigate the case and ensure justice to the family.

On the SP's instruction, the girl was sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital to ascertain her exact age.

A six-member team of doctors of the Patna Medical College and Hospital examined her and confirmed that the girl was below 18 years of age (minor).

The SP, in his supervision report, found the charges of kidnapping to be true against the accused - Deepak Kumar and Pintu Sao - and ordered their arrest. The DIG agreed to the SP and sought explanation from the DSP and the investigating officer. The DIG, in his report, expressed surprise over the DSP's defiance to the Supreme Court ruling, which says, "Prima facie, no certificate from doctor is required to ascertain the age of the victim if the latter (victim) provides the certificate issued by educational institution/board."