Bengaluru family disappears from Bandipur resort, cops clueless

Police probe

A Bengaluru-based family staying at a resort in the Bandipur of Karnataka's Chamrajnagar district mysteriously disappeared on Monday, prompting the police of three states, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, to launch an intensive search operation.

According to the Gundlupet police, the family, which included J Nishanth, 40, his wife Chandana, and their 10-year-old son, checked into the Country Club resort on March 2. However, they were reported missing the following day, leaving behind their luggage. They drove off in their car, which was last traced to Mangala Road in the Bandipur forest area. Since then, there has been no sign of them.

Upon visiting the resort, Superintendent of Police B T Kavitha issued an order for an intensive, thorough investigation. According to preliminary investigations, Nishanth used a fictitious Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) employee ID to make the resort reservation. However, the probe revealed that he was unemployed.

Police doubt that he may have been avoiding moneylenders, as he had taken out large debts and was under a lot of financial difficulty, according to preliminary investigations. The authorities are also looking at other possibilities, such as voluntary disappearance into the forest or kidnapping by creditors.

Officials have said that as the investigation is still underway, no conclusions can be made at this time. The police have launched a hunt in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Mysuru city in Karnataka.

In another such incident, a second-year Pre-University (PUC, Class 12) student went missing in Farangipete town near Bantwal, in Mangaluru district, on Feb 25. Earlier that day, the student, Digant, had collected his hall ticket for the board exams and later went to Anjaneya Temple in the evening but never returned.