Mangaluru: The special initiative launched by city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy to trace missing persons has yielded yet another breakthrough, with authorities successfully locating a man who had been missing for nearly eight years. The latest success reinforces the growing efficiency of the police tracking system, which has been receiving strong public appreciation since its rollout.

Long-pending case finally resolved

The missing person, Peter Mendonca, had disappeared on August 25, 2018, prompting his family to file a case at the Kankanady Town police station. For years, his whereabouts remained unknown despite extensive search operations conducted across Dakshina Kannada district, neighbouring districts and even other states.

As part of the search, police teams visited multiple ashrams, shelter homes, and charitable institutions where missing individuals are often found residing. Despite these efforts, the case remained unresolved and was categorised as one of the long-pending missing persons cases in Mangaluru city.

Police intensify search under new initiative

After commissioner Reddy launched a dedicated initiative to track missing persons, older and unresolved cases were prioritised for review. Teams were instructed to revisit leads, re-examine case files, contact earlier witnesses, and conduct fresh searches at institutions known to shelter unidentified or abandoned individuals.

Officers at the Kankanady Town police station renewed their efforts accordingly. Inspector T D Nagaraj, sub-inspectors Anita and Shivakumar, and police constable Shivananda worked systematically through the case, rechecking earlier points of contact and strengthening coordination with local organisations.

Their persistent efforts resulted in new information regarding individuals residing in ashrams in and around Mangaluru, prompting the team to intensify field visits and verification drives in the area.

Missing man found at Valencia ashram

On November 8, the breakthrough finally arrived. During a routine verification visit, police located Peter Mendonca at an ashram near Valencia church in Mangaluru. Officials confirmed his identity after cross-checking personal details and coordinated with the institution to gather more information about his stay and wellbeing.

The discovery brought immense relief to the police team working on the case, as well as to Mendonca’s family, who had waited nearly eight years for closure. Police sources said the man had been staying at the ashram for an extended period, although the circumstances of his disappearance and subsequent movement are still being understood.

Success highlights effectiveness of new police drive

The police commissioner’s initiative has focused on streamlining the tracing process, improving inter-departmental coordination, and increasing the frequency of field verification drives. Officers have also been directed to use digital tools more effectively and maintain updated records of missing persons.

Mangaluru police have reported that the renewed campaign has already helped resolve several older cases that had remained pending due to lack of new leads. The tracing of Mendonca is being viewed as another significant achievement under the programme.

Senior officials stated that such recoveries strengthen public confidence in law enforcement, encouraging families of missing individuals to continue reporting cases without hesitation.

Conclusion

Peter Mendonca’s safe tracing after eight long years marks a major milestone for the Mangaluru City Police’s missing persons initiative. The case underscores the importance of sustained follow-up, inter-agency cooperation and renewed field engagement. With the programme continuing to receive strong public response, authorities hope to resolve more long-pending cases and extend support to families still awaiting answers.