Fifteen-year-old Damayanti Sen was recently qualified for the national team selection trials. Photo: X
Howrah teen rifle shooter missing; police launch extensive search
Fifteen-year-old Damayanti Sen, who recently qualified for national selection trials, was last seen at Howrah railway station
A 15-year-old state-level rifle shooter who recently earned a place in the national selection trials has gone missing after leaving her home in Howrah on Thursday (July 16) morning, triggering an extensive police search and an appeal from her family.
Damayanti Sen, a resident of central Howrah, was last seen on CCTV footage at Howrah railway station shortly after leaving home to buy milk from a nearby shop. She has not been traced since.
According to her family, Damayanti left home 9 am wearing a pink T-shirt and shorts. When she did not return within half an hour, they initially assumed she had gone for her routine morning walk along the river.
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After searching the area without success, they approached the police.
Intention unclear
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from Howrah station, which showed the teenager entering the station at about 9.46 am. She was last captured on camera around 10.01 am walking towards platforms 4 and 5.
Police are trying to determine whether she boarded a train or left the station through another exit.
Her father, Dhruvajyoti Sen, said Damayanti had left her mobile phone at home, making it difficult to establish her movements after she disappeared. He added that there had been no family dispute or unusual behaviour in the days leading up to the incident.
National team selection
The disappearance has caused particular concern within the shooting fraternity because Damayanti had recently qualified for the national team selection trials, marking an important milestone in her sporting career.
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She trains under Olympian rifle shooter Joydeep Karmakar and had been following a disciplined practice schedule. According to her family, she had gone to bed early on Wednesday (July 15) in preparation for practice the next day.
Missing person case
A missing person complaint has been registered with Howrah police, while officers have expanded the search to neighbouring railway stations and nearby districts. Family members have also circulated her photograph on social media in the hope of generating credible leads.
Although several people have contacted the family claiming to have seen the teenager at different locations, none of the tips has been verified so far. One report from Bardhaman was investigated but did not lead to Damayanti.
Police said they are continuing to examine CCTV footage and pursue all available leads.
As the search enters its second day, Damayanti's family remains hopeful that the promising young shooter will be found safe.