Patna: Four years after his family reported him missing and alleged he had been murdered, 22-year-old Ravishankar Kumar has returned home alive. In the intervening years, four people were arrested or surrendered before the court in connection with his alleged murder, spent around three months in jail and later secured bail. The dramatic turn came just days after Ravishankar’s father performed his pind daan in Gaya, believing his son was dead.Ravishankar, a resident of Lalpur village in Samastipur district, was traced at a fruit shop in Noida earlier this month. A person with disabilities who cannot speak or hear, he was brought home on Oct 4 and handed over to his family, police said on Monday.The dramatic turn came on Oct 2 when Akash Kumar, a Lalpur resident working in Noida, spotted a young man at a fruit shop while heading to a salon around 3pm. Akash recognised him as Ravishankar, whose alleged kidnapping and murder had led to a police case at Rosera in Bihar four years ago.Akash informed his companions and the village mukhiya, following which arrangements were made to bring Ravishankar back. He was brought by train to Rosera on the afternoon of Oct 4 and handed over to police after villagers informed the station.Ravishankar disappeared on July 1, 2022, when his father, Madan Yadav, lodged an FIR at Rosera police station. The family alleged that Sahdev Pandit, Mukesh Pandit and Dinesh Pandit made Ravishankar work with a JCB and tractor and in a mango orchard. The complaint alleged he died after a tractor overturned and that the accused disposed of his body. Tractor driver Chhotu Mahto was also named as an accused.Police arrested Sahdev Pandit, Mukesh Pandit and Chhotu Mahto, while Dinesh Pandit surrendered before the court. All four later obtained bail.Around five days ago, Madan travelled to Gaya during the Pitripaksh fair and performed his son’s pind daan, believing him to be dead.Rosera DSP Sanjay Sinha said the missing youth had been recovered and further legal action was being taken. He said a supplementary chargesheet would be submitted before the court and the status of the accused would be clarified based on the investigation.Police are now probing where Ravishankar stayed for four years and why he did not return home.
