Hill boy missing

TT, Siliguri, May 20: A 16-year-old boy from Sukhiapokhri in the Darjeeling hills has gone missing from his rented accommodation in Gurungbusty here since Sunday. Police said they had come to know that a text message from Prashant Kalyani’s cell phone had reached some of his family members yesterday. 

“Content of the message is not clear to us but apparently he has written that that he is in trouble and needs help. We have taken the help of experts and his cell phone could be traced to Calcutta,” said a police source. So far, investigators said, the family of the Class XI student had not received a ransom call. 

“It might not be a case of abduction for money. We are exploring all possible angles,” said the source. Kalyani is a resident of Sukhiapokhri and had shifted here two months ago for admission to Siliguri Model High School. 

“He was staying at a rented house with his elder brother. On Sunday, he left his house to visit a temple nearby and didn’t return,” said Abhishek, a cousin of Kalyani.