CID: Journalist depressed

TT, Aug. 8: The CID today said Chayan Sarkar, the Uttar Banga Sambad journalist who had been missing since August 2 and was found in Cooch Behar yesterday, had told police he was suffering from depression.

Chayan was produced in a court in his home district Alipurduar today for a judicial statement because his family had lodged a police complaint of kidnap. The police said no charges would be pressed against Chayan, who was taken home by his family from Alipurduar police station in the evening.

Before being taken to court, Chayan was brought to a news conference held by CID special superintendent Sunil Yadav and Alipurduar police superintendent A. Ravindranath in Siliguri. The journalist did not make any comment there.

"He had left home for family reasons. In his statement, he has said he is suffering from depression and had thought of staying away from Alipurduar for some days," Yadav said.

"He left on August 2. He abandoned his motorcycle and wallet and with the help of one of his colleagues, went to Kamakhyaguri station (25km from Alipurduar town) and boarded the Guwahati-bound Kanchanjunga Express," the officer added.

"He was carrying Rs 1,800 in cash and had stayed in bus stands and railway platforms in Guwahati."

According to Yadav, Chayan spent almost all his money and yesterday took a bus from Guwahati to Dhubri. From there, he took another bus to Cooch Behar.

"We found him at a truck stand in Cooch Behar," Yadav said.

While leaving the court, Chayan told journalists: "Whatever I had to say, I have said to the CID and the court."

Chayan's father Prasanta said: "He and his wife got divorced two months ago. There has been no problem in our family since then. My son never said anything to us."