Palakkad, 11 April (H.S.):The mysterious death of 15-year-old Sreenanda, a student from Kerala who went missing during a family trip to Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, has raised serious concerns, with her relatives alleging foul play and demanding a comprehensive investigation.

Sreenanda had gone missing while on a sightseeing trip with a group of around 40 people. Her body was later recovered from a deep gorge, but the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death have triggered multiple unanswered questions.

According to the family, search operations were initially carried out extensively in the same area where the body was eventually found. Despite three days of continuous efforts, no trace of the girl was discovered at that location. However, shockingly, the body was recovered from the very same spot on the fourth day. This has led the family to question the credibility and consistency of the search operations.

Raising suspicions of possible abduction, the family alleged that Sreenanda may have been drugged and taken away by unknown persons. They pointed out that the possibility of kidnapping has not been ruled out even by the police. Her mother stated that the girl could have been taken away during a moment when she was alone, suggesting that the incident may not have been accidental.

Adding to the mystery is the location where the body was found. Family members insist that the area — a steep gorge — was not one Sreenanda would have accessed on her own, making the possibility of an accidental fall questionable. They have urged authorities to probe whether there was an attempt to harm the child.

Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage from the area to reconstruct the sequence of events. The timeline provided by the family further intensifies the mystery. Sreenanda was seen standing behind her family members in a photograph taken at 5:20 p.m. on the day she went missing. However, in images taken just 15 minutes later, at 5:35 p.m., she is no longer visible.

The family has demanded that authorities determine what exactly transpired within those crucial 15 minutes, insisting that only a thorough and transparent investigation can uncover the truth behind the tragic incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman