A woman from Guwahati whose disappearance had sparked concern across social media and among residents over the last two days has returned home safely and revealed that she had travelled to Shillong with thoughts of ending her life. Bhabana Sarma broke her silence nearly 48 hours after she went missing by posting a video message on social media, where she explained the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and denied rumours that had circulated online during the search for her. In the video statement, she said no outsider or cab driver was involved in her disappearance and clarified that she had travelled alone. She also rejected speculation that she had been abducted or harmed by another person during her journey. According to Bhabana Sarma, she left her home on April 24 and travelled from Jalukbari to Paltan Bazar before heading to Shillong. She stated that she checked into a hotel by herself and said CCTV footage from different locations would confirm that she was alone throughout the trip.
Her disappearance had triggered widespread concern after messages reportedly sent from her phone suggested that she was in danger. However, in her latest statement, she admitted that the message she sent to her mother claiming she was unsafe was not true. She said she had sent the message while going through severe emotional distress and was not mentally stable at the time. “At that time, I was anxious, confused and unable to think properly. I felt emotionally broken and at one point I thought of ending my life,” she said in the video message. She further said that after reaching Shillong, she later realised that she could not go ahead with the decision and eventually decided to return home. According to her statement, the following morning she approached a woman for help while sitting outside and later contacted her mother. With assistance from the Assam Police, she was able to return home safely. In the same video message, Bhabana Sarma also made serious allegations regarding a personal relationship that she said had caused her emotional trauma over a long period.
She alleged that she had been under emotional pressure during a two-year relationship with a man identified as Nihar Jyoti Sarma. According to her, both families were aware of the relationship. She claimed that whenever she attempted to end the relationship, she was allegedly threatened with the release of private photographs and videos. She further alleged that threats had also been made against her and members of her family. According to her statement, the fear and emotional pressure created by the situation pushed her into severe mental distress and eventually led her to leave home. Bhabana Sarma said she has now filed an FIR regarding the matter and is cooperating with the police investigation.