Four from Odisha go missing in Maoist-hit zone in Chhattisgarh, family cries kidnapping 

Mystery shrouded the disappearance of four persons including three members of a family who went missing while returning home in Nabarangpur district from neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

More than 36 hours have passed since the four people hailing from Raighar went incommunicado. They were returning home in a car after attending a marriage function in Kanker of Chhattisgarh. 

The missing persons have been identified Sapan Sarkar, his wife Itishree, brother-in-law Biswajit and his neighbour Hajari Dhali. Sapan is a supervisor at Raighar tehsil office. 

The family members have lodged a missing report at a police station in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker. 

According to a report, the four had gone to Kanker to attend a marriage function. On their way home on Saturday night, they decided to stay at Biswajit’s native place at Kondagaon. However, after 10 pm, all of their phones answered out of range and they couldn’t be contacted despite repeated attempts by the rest of the family members. 

The family suspected that they have been kidnapped. Besides, the role of Maoists is also suspected as the area from where the four went missing is a Naxal-infested area. 

“They left Kanker at around 10.30 pm. Their phones went unreachable after they had travelled around five kilometres. A missing report has been lodged at the police station and the police have launched an operation. We are yet to receive any good news,” said Swapna Sarkar, a relative.