Brahmapur: A first-year MBBS student has been missing from his college in Odisha’s Ganjam district for the last three days, prompting police to intensify search operation to trace him.
The medical student has been identified as Sagar Sahoo, a resident of Kaplai near Kuakhia in Jajpur district in the state. He has been missing since Monday, leaving his family worried as more than 72 hours have elapsed without any information about his whereabouts.
Sagar, a student of the MKCG Medical College and Hospital, was last seen at the Berhampur railway station, where police later recovered his mobile phone.
A police team was formed immediately after the missing report was received and efforts were launched to trace the student, according to Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M.
A missing persons case was registered at Baidyanathpur police station based on a complaint lodged by medical college dean-cum-principal Hari Krishna Dalai.
“Police are verifying CCTV footage and examining the student’s mobile phone. His friends are also being questioned to understand his mental condition. We hope the student will be traced soon,” he said.
The medical college authorities have informed Sagar’s parents about his disappearance. Police and the college administration have appealed to anyone having information about his whereabouts to contact the authorities immediately.
Sagar’s family members have reached Berhampur and are conducting searches at various places. His father, uncle and other relatives were also seen searching for him at Berhampur Railway Station.
A relative of the student said he had spoken to Sagar on Saturday and to his parents on Sunday.
Sagar had expressed his desire to return to his village on Saturday night, but his parents advised him to remain at the college as his examinations were in progress, he said.
When Sagar did not respond to repeated calls on Monday afternoon, his parents contacted one of his friends. The friend informed them that Sagar had not appeared for the examination that day and had not returned to the hostel, he said.
The family subsequently circulated his photograph on social media and conducted searches at various places, Karunakar said.
Medical college officials, however, said Sagar had appeared for the first paper of the examination, Anatomy.
“We have intimated the matter to the police. His parents have also arrived in Berhampur after the incident,” the principal said.
