Agartala, May 14:
After days of uncertainty and frantic searches by family members, the body of a missing youth from Tripura was brought back from Bangladesh on Thursday through the Manu Land Customs point in Kailashahar following completion of all legal formalities.
The deceased, identified as Nityananda Malakar, around 30 years old, was a resident of Durgapur area under Ward No. 15 of Kailashahar Municipal Council in Unakoti district.
According to family members, Nityananda had been missing since May 9. His elder brother Amrit Malakar, alleged that two of Nityananda’s friends — identified as Montosh Malakar and Bijoy Nam — had called him over the phone and taken him away on that day. When he did not return home, the family launched a search and two days later lodged a missing diary at Kailashahar Police Station.
The family members also questioned the two friends regarding Nityananda’s whereabouts, but they allegedly claimed to have no knowledge about him.
A breakthrough came two days later when the family came across social media reports stating that the body of an unidentified youth had been recovered from the Manu River under Kulaura Police Station in Bangladesh.
Based on the photographs and details circulated online, the family initially suspected the body to be that of Nityananda.
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Subsequently, through official and legal procedures involving authorities of both countries, the identity of the deceased was confirmed.
On Thursday afternoon, the body was formally handed over to Indian authorities and the victim’s family members in the presence of officials from Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Kailashahar Police and customs authorities.
Kailashahar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tapas Malakar, DCM Hemanta Dhar and other officials were present during the handover process.
The grieving family members identified the body after it was brought to Kailashahar.
Speaking to reporters, Kailashahar Police Station OC Tapas Malakar said the body would be handed over to the family after completion of the post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, Nityananda’s family members have demanded a fair and proper investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.
He is survived by his elderly mother, four brothers and other family members.
