Kolkata: Missing Bengal rifle shooter Damayanti Sen was found safe early Saturday, nearly 40 hours after she disappeared from her home in Howrah, with police now investigating where the teenager stayed during the period and whether anyone helped her while she was away.

The 15-year-old, who trains under Olympian Joydeep Karmakar and recently qualified for the national rifle shooting selection trials, was traced at around
4 am after her father, Dhruvajyoti Sen, received a phone call about her whereabouts.

She was found sitting alone at a jetty near Ramakrishnapur Ghat and was later taken to Howrah Police Station for questioning.

According to investigators, Damayanti told police she had moved between multiple locations, including Howrah and Serampore, during the nearly two-day period.

She also claimed to have changed her clothes several times while she was missing. Police are now verifying her account by retracing her route and visiting every location she mentioned.

Howrah City Police Deputy Commissioner Tauseef Ali Azhar said preliminary questioning suggested the teenager had left home following issues with her parents.

'She has returned safely. We are verifying where she stayed during this period. She will be produced before the court,' he said.

Her father thanked the police, the state administration and everyone involved in the search operation.

He said Damayanti was found wearing different clothes from those she had on when she left home, adding that someone might have assisted her during her disappearance.

'The important thing is that we found her safe. Police are looking into everything,' he said.

Damayanti's mother broke down in tears after reuniting with her daughter. She said the family received a call before dawn informing them that the teenager had been spotted wandering near the ghat, after which her father rushed to bring her home.

Damayanti had gone missing on Thursday morning after leaving her home in central Howrah to buy milk. She was not carrying a mobile phone, money, or identity documents, complicating efforts to trace her.

The disappearance triggered a massive search operation after CCTV cameras captured her at Howrah and Serampore railway stations.

Following mounting concern, police formed a Special Investigation Team to track the promising young shooter.

With Damayanti now safe, investigators are focusing on reconstructing the missing 40 hours, examining her movements, verifying her statements and determining whether anyone played a role in helping her remain away from home.