By P.T. Bopanna
Kodagu police should file a suo moto case to investigate the bona fides of G.S. Sharanya, 31, (in picture) the Kerala techie who went missing while trekking at Tadiyandamol peak in Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka.
Prima facie it looks like there are many holes in her story of how she lost her way while trekking.
Karnataka government’s handling of the situation also gives the impression that there was a political angle to it in view of the ongoing election campaign in Kerala where Congress leaders from the state are campaigning for the party.
The sad fact is the BJP in Karnataka is a dead entity and not in a position to question the governance issues. The Modi-Shah duo only take interest in the affairs of the party when there is an election around the corner in the state.
Having been a crime reporter myself, I am not convinced by her explanations on how she lost her way. She went missing on April 2 and she was rescued by local tribals on April 5.
Her explanation that she lost her way, gives the impression that she was a babe in the woods, who got confused and took a wrong turn.
I am familiar with the area around Tadiyandamol. I went there several years ago and went on short trek, but had to return as I had limited time.
The trekking path is clear and there is not much vegetation in the path. In the ordinary course, it is not possible to get lost or lose way.
The fact is she has done solo trips in the past to various destinations, and she seems to be a veteran. Being a techie she must have charged her smart phone. After reportedly losing her way, she called up the homestay people where she stayed overnight and informed them. Being a techie, she could have passed on the location, which would made it easy to locate her.
The forest department officials started rescue operations soon after they came to know that she had gone missing. Sharanya’s behaviour has been peculiar from the start. She insisted with forest officials that she wanted to do solo trek, but officials prevailed on her to join the group.
When the search was going on involving forest officials and members of the tribal communities with thermal drones, etc., there was no need for chief minister Siddaramaiah to order engaging anti-Naxal squad.
After she was rescued, Sharanya was busy talking to politicians. Her family members met Karnataka ministers who were campaigning in Kerala.
Sharanya missing issue was blown out of proportion on social media and people had lined up in Virajpet to “honour’ her by wrapping her with shawls, etc.
Since Congress politicians had tried to take mileage of the incident, there should be a court-monitored probe to ascertain the facts. Her mobile may hold the key to unravel her intensions. There is also need to assess her mental condition to ascertain whether she had staged the ‘drama’ to get publicity.
More than anything, she has brought bad name to the image of Coorg tourism. Holiday makers have been visiting Coorg in view of its safety records.
Residents of Kodagu are convinced that Sharanya episode was a publicity stunt. The district administration should remove doubts. It is possible that her claim of being lost in the forest maybe genuine. But only an investigation can unravel the truth.