Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A 19-year-old woman, who was reported missing from Nagoa, Arpora, has been traced at the Panjim bus stand, North Goa Police said on Tuesday. The woman told police that she had not been abducted and had left with her male friend of her own free will.
According to police, a complaint was lodged by her 49-year-old father, a driver and resident of Rauta Wado, Nagoa, Arpora, stating that his daughter had gone with a friend to see Narkasur effigies at Saligao on November 7 at around 9 pm but had failed to return home.
Suspecting that an unknown person had abducted his daughter using force or deceitful means, the father approached Anjuna Police Station. Based on the complaint, Anjuna Police registered FIR No. 133/2026 under Section 138 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, at 12.59 am on November 9.
The woman was traced at the Panjim bus stand on Tuesday evening and brought to Anjuna Police Station. During questioning, she reportedly stated that she had not been abducted and had left voluntarily with her male friend. Police teams are searching for the friend as part of the investigation.
Police clarified that the FIR was registered in compliance with Supreme Court directions in *G. Ganesh v. State of Tamil Nadu* (May 2026), which directed police to immediately register FIRs upon receiving missing-person complaints, irrespective of age or gender, invoking relevant provisions of the BNS relating to kidnapping, abduction or trafficking, wherever applicable.
Following the directions, the Police Headquarters had issued an office order for implementation across the state. Goa Police said registering missing-person cases under relevant kidnapping or abduction provisions has now become standard practice in the state.
Goa Police reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
