A wave of grief has swept through Assam’s media fraternity after the body of journalist Papu Jyotishi, who had been missing for the last three days, was recovered from the Gangadhar River near the India-Bangladesh border late on Tuesday night, June 9.
Jyotishi, a former president of the Golakganj Press Club, had gone missing under mysterious circumstances on June 7 from Chhotguma village along the Assam-West Bengal border under the jurisdiction of Golakganj Police Station.
Following his disappearance, family members, colleagues and local residents launched an extensive search, but no trace of the journalist was found until Tuesday night, when villagers noticed a body floating in the river and informed the authorities.
Acting on the information, police reached the Binnachar area and recovered the decomposed body from the Gangadhar River. During a preliminary examination at the scene, officials recovered Jyotishi’s official press identity card from his shirt pocket, which helped confirm his identity.
Police said the circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear and that it is too early to determine whether it was a case of suicide, accidental drowning or foul play.
“The exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem examination report is received. A detailed investigation has been initiated from all possible angles,” a police official said.
The recovery of the journalist’s body has sent shockwaves across Dhubri district and neighbouring areas, with members of the media fraternity expressing concern and demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
Officials said further clarity is expected after forensic and medical examinations are completed. The investigation is continuing.
