Reporter remains untraced; CID visits area

Efforts were on to trace a journalist who went missing here with a CID team visiting the area while a 12-hour bandh was being observed in the district demanding that he be traced immediately.

As part of the CID probe ordered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the CID team comprising 35 personnel of the probe agency yesterday visited the spot near journalist Chayan Sarkar's home at Alipurduar town from where he went missing.

They also collected documents pertaining to the case, a police official said.
Sarkar, a reporter of Bengali daily Uttarbanga Sangbad, has been missing since 9 AM on Sunday after eight persons, earlier named by him in an FIR for issuing threats for writing a college admission bribery story, were arrested.

Sarkar's note book, scooter and purse were found lying at a spot, a police officer had said yesterday.

Meanwhile, a 12-hour bandh called by the Congress and supported by BJP and Left Front on the issue in Alipurduar district today evoked good response.

Shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed and private vehicles were off the roads. Attendance was thin in offices.

The Chief Minister had yesterday said that IGP, North Bengal Gyanwant Singh had been sent to Alipurduar and the CID asked to inquire into the matter.

Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri Press Club members had alleged that Sarkar was kidnapped by the group which was involved in an admission racket in a college in Alipurduar district as he earned their wrath after filing an investigative report in the largely circulated daily in North Bengal, which "exposed" how cash was being demanded from the candidates and guardians for admissions.