Itanagar: Skeletal remains discovered near the Panbari area of Lohit district on June 23 may belong to a missing dentist from Assam, who vanished from a riverside resort near Parshuram Kund nearly a month ago, police said.
The remains were found by local fishermen along the Lohit riverbank, approximately 15 to 20 kilometres from Parshuram Kund and immediately reported to authorities. While identity has not been confirmed, police suspect the remains could be linked to Dr Debanjib Kumar Sharma, a dentist from Guwahati who went missing on May 31 under mysterious circumstances.
“We have collected DNA samples from Dr Sharma’s mother and daughter. These will be sent to laboratories in either Guwahati or Kolkata for analysis,” Lohit superintendent of police Thutan Jamba told NewsFy.
“The results are expected in two to three months, although we are making efforts to expedite the process.”
Dr Sharma had checked into Tulow Resort near Parshuram Kund and was last seen by resort staff around 8 am on May 31. He was reportedly shifting rooms due to landslides and flash floods caused by incessant rainfall in the area. The resort management informed that all his personal belongings, including his motorcycle, were later found intact.
Search operations were launched immediately by the police, supported by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Medical experts examining the skeletal remains estimate them to be about a month old — a timeline that aligns with Dr Sharma’s disappearance. However, the police have not ruled out other possibilities.
“Preliminary investigation suggests a strong likelihood of accidental drowning, considering the high water levels in the Lohit River on the day he went missing,” the SP said.
That said, we are not ruling out any angle, including the possibility of foul play, he added.
As authorities await DNA confirmation, the discovery has deepened the anguish of the family, who continue to hold out hope. The police have assured that further investigation will continue based on the forensic findings.
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