Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 16: A Kerala-origin student studying at a private college in Deralakatte has gone missing after allegedly losing nearly Rs 3 lac on a gaming app, prompting a police search operation.

Ullal police have registered a case after CCTV footage captured the youth riding away from his PG on a scooter late at night.

The missing youth, identified as Malik Abubacker (19), is the son of Rabiya and Abubacker from Padinjarande, Ottapalam in Palakkad district, Kerala.

According to preliminary investigation, Malik reportedly lost Rs 3 lac through a gaming application, and police suspect the financial setback may have driven him to leave in distress. His scooter was later found abandoned at Mangaluru Railway Station, heightening suspicion that he may have boarded the Mangaluru Express heading towards Goa.

Malik, a BNYS student, was residing in a PG accommodation belonging to a man identified as Shareef in Deralakatte. On November 13, he is said to have stepped out after telling roommates he was “going for dinner”, but he failed to return to the PG thereafter.

A formal complaint was lodged at Ullal police station by Dr Azmal T A, a physiotherapist and the maternal uncle of Malik’s mother. Acting on the complaint, Ullal Police have commenced a detailed probe.

Police sources said they are working on the suspicion that Malik might have travelled towards Goa and are coordinating with railway and Goa Police authorities as part of the search operation.