Missing Bengal Journalist Resurfaces

Kolkata: A journalist of a Bengali daily, who went missing days after he reported about corruption in a college admission, has been found, police said on Saturday.

Chayan Sarkar, a correspondent with the Uttarbanga Sangbad, had been untraceable since Sunday (August 2) after he had gone missing from West Bengal's Alipurduar district. His family members and friends claimed he was abducted.

Mr Sarkar resurfaced on Friday night, claiming that he was released by his abductors.

"He called up police last night saying that his abductors dropped him at the Cooch Behar town bus stop. As of now, we cannot say whether he went into hiding or was abducted," a CID officer told IANS.

"He is being brought to Alipurduar where we will examine him. Only after talking to him the facts will be clear whether he was abducted or not," added the officer.

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The scribe had gone missing days after he filed a police complaint saying he was getting threats for reporting about irregularities and corruption in the admission process of Alipurduar College.

While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (August 3) had directed the CID to probe the matter, the opposition Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged the involvement of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad behind Mr Sarkar's 'abduction'.

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Besides, the Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri Press Club, as well as Mr Sarkar's family members have alleged that he was abducted by those involved in the admission racket.