Karnataka: A family staying at a resort in the Bandipur region of Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district has mysteriously disappeared, prompting an extensive investigation by local authorities. The missing family consists of 40-year-old J. Nishanth, his wife Chandana, and their 10-year-old son, all of whom are residents of Bengaluru. 

According to Gundlupet Police, the family checked into the Country Club resort near Bandipur on March 2. However, they were reported missing the following day when they left their room, leaving behind their luggage. The family travelled in their car to Mangala Road in the Bandipur forest area and then seemingly vanished without a trace. The resort staff alerted authorities when the family failed to return.

The police have since launched a missing persons investigation, and Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police B.T. Kavitha visited the resort on Tuesday to oversee the investigation and guide officers on the next steps. The search for the missing family has expanded, with police operations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the nearby city of Mysuru in Karnataka. Despite the widespread search, the family's whereabouts remain unknown, and no further details have been confirmed.

Preliminary investigations into the family’s disappearance have raised several concerns. Authorities revealed that Nishanth had checked into the resort using a fake identity card, claiming to be an employee of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). However, further inquiry showed that Nishanth was not employed. It is suspected that Nishanth was facing financial difficulties, as he was reportedly under pressure from moneylenders after accumulating heavy debts. Police believe that this financial strain may have been a factor in the family's disappearance. Some theories suggest that the family may have been kidnapped by creditors or may have fled into the forests to escape their financial troubles.

While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not been able to confirm the exact circumstances surrounding the disappearance. 

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Nishanth and his family comes on the heels of another recent missing persons case in Mangaluru, where a second-year Pre-University (PUC) student went missing in Farangipete town, Bantwal. The case prompted protests from Hindu organisations and the BJP, who accused the police of inaction. 

(with IANS inputs)