Chief minister Nitish Kumar talks to journalists in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, April 4: When 30-year-old Sarita Devi approached chief minister Nitish Kumar and Patna deputy inspector-general Vineet Vinayak today, tears rolled down her eyes.

After Sarita’s husband went missing in July 2010, her fourth visit to the chief minister’s janata darbar did not prove to be of any help.

“This is the fourth time in a row I have come here. Every time, the police said the matter is being looked into. For the past nine months there’s no trace of my husband. What kind of investigation is going on. Why can’t I get a concrete reply?” a sobbing Sarita said.

Vinayak, on the other hand, had little to say. “Details regarding the case are with the police and the matter will come to light soon,” he said.

Sarita was, however, not convinced. She walked towards the exit with eyes brimming with tears as her four-year-old child, Priyanshu, held on to her.

“My husband Rajesh alias Mangal was into land dealings. We hail from Hilsa in Nalanda. His partners — Ram Pravesh Mahto and Moin Mian — are responsible for this. An FIR has been lodged against them. But nothing has happened since then,” she said.

The darbar today saw a huge crowd, mostly women, each with a sorry tale to tell.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar listens to the plea of an old woman at the janata darbar at his residence in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar.

The chief minister was holding the janata darbar after a gap of a month. He was busy with the budget session all through March.

On one hand where Sarita Devi was looking for her missing husband, 30-year-old Chunni Devi was fed up with her in-laws. She got married five years back and since then Chunni has been constantly tortured for dowry. Finally, she took the darbar route to make herself heard.

“I am tired now. My family married me in Ara. Since marriage, my in-laws are pestering me for dowry, which includes refrigerators, television, motorcycle and many such things. Now, it is high time I should act. If I don’t, they would kill me someday. I decided to leave my husband’s place. I am sure I will get justice at the darbar,” she said confidently.

Middle-aged Runa Devi, a resident of Ara, blamed the police for her husband’s death.

“My husband, Vinod Rai, worked as an informer for the police. On October 31, 2010 he was killed in a fake encounter set up by deputy superintendent of police Jeevan Kumar and two other police officers of the district. I want justice for him. Why was he killed?” she pleaded. Nitish took note of the plea and transferred the case to the CID.

Sapna from Samastipur had come down to the darbar with a petition regarding her sister, who was allegedly burnt by her in-laws.

However, police investigations pointed fingers at her. “They have made me a culprit stating that I had burnt my sister. What kind of an investigation is this?” she asked. This case, too, was transferred to the CID.