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The body of the missing 19-year-old college student, who went missing from New Delhi on July 7, was found on the night of Sunday, July 13, officials said in Agartala. A senior police official said that the body of Sneha Debnath was recovered from the Yamuna River, and her family members identified the body. The official said that, as per the preliminary reports, it was suspected to be a case of suicide. “However, the Delhi police are conducting a full-fledged inquiry into the incident,” he official told IANS.
Expressing his deep shock, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha condoled the death and shared his condolences to the bereaved family. “The Chief Minister has ordered a detailed probe into the incident and asked the officials of Tripura Bhavan in New Delhi to extend all kinds of help to the family members of Sneha,” said an official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Senior Tripura Police officials are in constant touch with their Delhi counterparts in this regard, the official said, adding that further details are awaited. The official earlier in the day said, “DGP (Director General of Police), Tripura, Anurag personally contacted the Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, requesting him to take steps to rescue the girl. The DGP is personally monitoring the case.”
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, late on Saturday night, also instructed the police to take steps to rescue the girl. In a post on the X, the CMO Tripura said: “The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come to the notice of the Chief Minister's Office. Following this, necessary instructions have been promptly issued to the police to take immediate and appropriate action.”
Local media reports said the girl had gone missing from north Delhi’s Wazirabad area on July 7. A family member of Sneha Debnath, a resident of Bhuratali village in Sabroom in southern Tripura, lodged a complaint with the Mehrauli police station in Delhi on July 9.
Media reports quoting family sources said that Sneha had gone out of her home in Delhi’s Saket area on the morning of July 7 to receive her friend at the Sarai Rohilla Railway station. A cab driver dropped Sneha near Delhi's Signature Bridge, but after some time, her mobile was switched off.
Daughter of a Military man, Sneha has been studying mathematics at the Delhi University college. Sneha’s father, Pritthis Debanth, since his daughter's disappearance, regularly pursued the Delhi Police to rescue her daughter. He also sought the intervention of Tripura Chief Minister Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, to take steps to rescue his daughter. Sneha’s four-member family has been staying in Delhi for many years. Family members remain extremely concerned. She left home without any belongings and had not withdrawn money from the ATM in the past few months. Sneha’s bank account remains untouched so far.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Tamil Nadu
State health department's suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Telangana
State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm
Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.