Freedom fighter's grandson consciously avoiding his presence:

The Odisha Police today claimed that freedom fighter Laxmi Indira Panda's missing grandson Babuli was consciously avoiding his presence.

"Based on the information gathered so far, he (Babuli) had been consciously avoiding his presence. He is a matured man," Director General of Police K B Singh told reporters.

Babuli (19), was missing since April 16 after his parents as family members of a freedom fighter, were felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The family got separated at the Bhubaneswar Railway Station on their return journey to Jeypore in Koraput district. While his mother was located at Balasore, Babuli is still missing.
 

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had directed the DGP to trace Babuli Panda.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the DGP said Babuli Panda has records of criminal cases.

"Babuli Panda might have gone somewhere over a quarrel with his brother," the DGP said adding that the brothers had quarrelled over missing of their mother, who has been located by now.

"There was a quarrel between Babuli and his brother. His brother scolded him as to why he left his mother and sister at the station for which they boarded different trains. I think Babuli might have gone somewhere in anger over the issue," Singh said.

Stating that the police tracked Babuli and his mobile phone, the DGP said his cell phone was last located at Mancheswar area in Bhubaneswar on April 18.

"After that, he has diverted the calls to a woman's number. We have called the woman and interrogated her but she was not aware about Babuli's whereabouts," he said.

Earlier, the BJP has accused the ruling BJD of engineering Babuli's disappearance. The BJD had rejected the allegation.

Asked about any development in the investigation, the DGP said the police is in touch with his family members.