Agartala, July 11, 2025: The family of Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old student from Tripura studying at Delhi University, has issued a public statement expressing deep anguish over her sudden disappearance from the national capital on July 7.
Sneha, a resident of Sabroom and a student of Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, reportedly left home around 5 a.m. that morning, telling her mother she was accompanying a friend, Pitunia, to Sarai Rohilla Railway Station. Her last known contact was at 5:56 a.m. Since then, her phone has remained switched off. Contrary to what Sneha had said, Pitunia later confirmed she never met her that morning.
Disturbingly, the cab driver who drove Sneha that day revealed she was dropped off at Delhi’s Signature Bridge—an area infamous for its lack of operational CCTV surveillance, making it a critical blind spot. A search by the NDRF on July 9, covering a 7-kilometre stretch, yielded no trace of the missing student.
Sneha had reportedly taken no belongings with her except her mobile phone, and her bank account has shown no activity for the past four months. Her father, Sub. Maj. (Hony. Lt.) Pritish Debnath (retd), a veteran undergoing dialysis for chronic kidney failure, released a heartfelt video message appealing to Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha for urgent intervention.
In response, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) of Tripura acknowledged the situation on social media, stating:
“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.”
The family strongly believes that the delay in lodging an FIR—over 48 hours after Sneha was reported missing—and the non-functional CCTV cameras at Signature Bridge have significantly hindered the investigation.
“This is not just about Sneha,” the family said in a statement. “It’s about the safety and dignity of every young woman in this country. A 19-year-old girl vanishes from the capital and we still have no answers after nearly 100 hours.”
The family urges anyone with information, no matter how minor, to come forward. They have provided a contact number for tips: 9646906580.
This case continues to raise serious concerns about women’s safety, digital surveillance gaps, and timely response by authorities in the capital.
