The body of missing DU student Sneha Debnath from Tripura was found in Delhi’s Yamuna River. She had gone missing on July 7. Authorities suspect suicide, but a full investigation is underway. Tripura CM Manik Saha has ordered a probe and extended support to the grieving family.
In a tragic development, the body of 19-year-old Sneha Debnath, a Delhi University student who had been missing since July 7, was recovered from the Yamuna River in Delhi on Sunday night. The news was confirmed by officials in Agartala and has left her family and the people of Tripura in deep shock.
Sneha, originally from Bhuratali village in Sabroom, southern Tripura, was a mathematics student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College under Delhi University. Her disappearance had drawn significant attention, prompting intervention from both the Tripura and Delhi Police as well as Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha.
A senior police official confirmed that the body recovered from the Yamuna River had been identified by Sneha’s family. Preliminary investigations suggest that Sneha may have died by suicide. However, Delhi Police have launched a full-fledged inquiry to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding her death.
“The case is being taken seriously. A detailed investigation is ongoing,” an official said. “While initial findings indicate suicide, all angles are being probed.”
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed his sorrow at the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. “The Chief Minister has directed a thorough investigation into the case,” said an official from the Chief Minister’s Office. “He has also instructed Tripura Bhavan in New Delhi to provide all possible assistance to Sneha’s family.”
Officials from Tripura, including the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), Anurag, had been in constant touch with senior Delhi Police officers during the search efforts. The DGP had personally contacted the Special Commissioner of Delhi Police to request urgent action in tracing the missing student. The Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, had similarly issued instructions late on July 7 to expedite rescue efforts.
The distressing chain of events began on the morning of July 7, when Sneha left her home in Delhi’s Saket area to receive a friend at Sarai Rohilla Railway Station. She reportedly took a cab, which dropped her near the Signature Bridge in north Delhi’s Wazirabad area. After this, her mobile phone was found switched off, sparking concern among her family members.
Her family, who has been living in Delhi for several years, lodged a missing complaint at the Mehrauli police station on July 9 after failing to contact her. Notably, Sneha had left home without any personal belongings, and her bank account showed no recent activity, leading her family to believe that she had no intention of disappearing voluntarily.
Sneha’s father, Pritthis Debnath, a retired military personnel, had been tirelessly pursuing the authorities for help. He appealed directly to CM Saha and the police, urging them to intensify the search for his daughter. Local media extensively covered the family’s efforts and the coordination between Tripura and Delhi Police.
The tragic outcome has cast a shadow over both Delhi and Tripura. The young girl’s future was bright, her academic journey promising, and her family deeply devoted. Her sudden disappearance and the subsequent recovery of her body have raised serious concerns, with many urging for a transparent and swift investigation.
As of now, no foul play has been confirmed, but the full post-mortem report and police inquiry are awaited to provide clarity.
This incident has highlighted the importance of inter-state police coordination and rapid response mechanisms in cases of missing persons, especially when young lives are involved. The Chief Minister’s intervention, along with active coordination between Tripura and Delhi authorities, ensured that efforts to trace Sneha were prompt, though the final outcome turned out to be a devastating one.
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The bereaved family, supported by the Tripura government, now awaits answers and justice. Meanwhile, citizens from Tripura and Delhi alike have expressed their condolences and called for improvements in public safety for students living away from their homes.
