News Science

Missing BARC Scientist Returns Mumbai, Says She was Given Only Paperwork in BARC

Babita Singh, a scientist from BARC who had gone missing from Mumbai and was later traced to the Aurobindo ashram at Puducherry has returned to Mumbai. She has now given statement to Nerul police, saying that she was handed only paperwork in BARC in the past five years and was never assigned any scientific research work.

Babita Singh also met some officials from BARC.

Singh’s brother Bharat said: “She told me that her boss Viraj Laxmi Das had been harassing her and not letting her work and was keeping her busy with paper work. She dreamt of being a scientist, but after joining she was only given paperwork. That’s why she ran away.”

Prashant Khaire, DCP, Zone 1 Navi Mumbai, said: “She returned safely and our officials took her statement. We have told her we will take action if she tells us about any harassment she faces at the institute. She has not said anything to us clearly yet.”

Singh’s fiancé, Deepak, said they would contact the concerned ministry and other authorities to tell them about her harassment.

28 Jan 2017: Missing Scientist, who was Frustrated at Work in BARC, Traced to Puducherry

A lady scientific officer, who went missing from her residence in Nerul, Mumbai on January 23, has been traced to Puducherry.

Babita Singh, a scientific officer with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), contacted her family in UP after she came across news reports of her disappearance.

Singh was reportedly facing some issue at her office and mentioned some of these issues to her relative in an email before she went missing. She was not carrying her cellphone and belongings with her when she went missing.

According to reports, Babita Singh had missed her flight from Puducherry and could not return to Nerul on Friday. She is now expected to return to Nerul on Saturday morning.

“On January 26, she called my mother, who stays in Uttar Pradesh, and told her that she was safe in Puducherry,” said Bharat Pratap Singh, her elder brother.

Bharat Pratap Singh, his uncle Vinod Singh and friend Deepak Singh reached Mumbai from UP after getting news of Babita’s disappearance.

“I came to Mumbai on January 23 night and approached Nerul police station,” he said.

“My sister said she was frustrated and left for Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry to find peace. She called from someone’s phone in the ashram after she learnt the news of her missing. One of our relatives has left for the ashram to be with her.”

According to Bharat Singh, they will take Babita to their home in Uttar Pradesh after she returns.

“Once she is back, we want her to take a break from work and rest. She has been harassed a lot. We are relieved she is safe.”

Senior Police Inspector Ashok Rajput said: “I have been informed that she is safe in Puducherry. When she returns we will record her statement. “