National shooter Damayanti Sen, 15, missing from Howrah Station since Thursday
Synopsis
A 15-year-old national-level shooter selected for Indian team trials has vanished from Howrah Station in West Bengal. CCTV footage is the only lead police have — and it stops at a platform. For a state whose shooting circles are already reeling from a high-profile suspension, the disappearance of Damayanti Sen adds a deeply human crisis to an already troubled sporting landscape.
Key Takeaways
Damayanti Sen , 15 , a national-level shooter, went missing from Howrah Station on Thursday, 17 July .
She had left her home at 30/2, Umacharan Bhattacharjee Lane, Central Howrah to buy household items and did not return.
CCTV footage places her moving between platform 4 and platform 5 at Howrah Station — the last confirmed sighting.
Her family told police she had no recent family disputes and had been rising early daily for shooting practice after her national team trial selection .
She could not be traced as of Friday morning despite searches by family and police.
The disappearance follows earlier controversy in West Bengal shooting: Olympian Joydeep Karmakar was suspended by the WBRA in March last year over corruption allegations.
National-level shooter Damayanti Sen, 15, has been missing from Howrah Station in West Bengal since Thursday afternoon, 17 July, with police and family unable to trace her as of Friday morning. The teenager, recently selected for national team trials, left her residence in Central Howrah to buy household items and never returned, triggering a frantic search by her family and local police.
Last Known Movements
After Damayanti Sen failed to return home, her family contacted her friends, shooting associates, and relatives before filing a missing diary at the local police station. Investigators subsequently reviewed CCTV footage at Howrah Station, which placed her moving between platform number four and platform number five.
'That was the last time that she was spotted and we are now trying to track where she went from there,' a local police officer said. Her mobile phone, which she had carried when she left the house, has also not helped establish her whereabouts.
What Police Know So Far
Damayanti Sen is a resident of 30/2, Umacharan Bhattacharjee Lane in Central Howrah. According to her family's statement to the police, she had been waking early every day for shooting practice ever since her national team trial selection. Her parents told investigators that she had no disagreement with any family member in the recent past, ruling out a domestic dispute as an immediate cause.
A Promising Career Put on Hold
The disappearance has sent shockwaves through shooting circles in West Bengal. Friends, neighbours, and teammates have expressed deep concern for the teenager, who had been on an upward trajectory in competitive shooting. Her recent selection for national team trials marked a significant milestone for a 15-year-old athlete.
Troubled Times for West Bengal Shooting
This is not the first time that the state's shooting community has faced turbulence. In March last year, the West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) suspended Olympian and former Indian rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in the state. His suspension followed a series of social media posts in January last year in which he accused the association of corruption — a controversy that drew national attention.
As the search for Damayanti Sen continues, police are expected to widen their probe and examine further surveillance footage from surrounding areas. The case has drawn urgent attention from both sporting bodies and the public.
Point of View
Human dimension. The speed and transparency of the police investigation will be closely watched.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Damayanti Sen and why is her disappearance significant?
Damayanti Sen is a 15-year-old national-level shooter from Central Howrah, West Bengal, who had recently been selected for Indian national team trials. Her disappearance is significant both because of her age and her promising athletic career, which has alarmed the state's shooting community.
When and where was Damayanti Sen last seen?
She was last seen on CCTV footage at Howrah Station on Thursday, 17 July, moving between platform number four and platform number five. She had left her home earlier that afternoon to purchase household items.
What are police doing to find her?
Police have registered a missing case, reviewed CCTV footage at Howrah Station, and are working to trace her movements beyond the last confirmed sighting. The investigation was ongoing as of Friday morning.
Did Damayanti Sen have any known disputes before she went missing?
According to her family's statement to police, she had no disagreement with any family member in the recent past. She had been waking early daily for shooting practice following her national team trial selection.
What is the background of controversy in West Bengal shooting?
In March last year, the West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) suspended Olympian and former Indian rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in the state. The suspension came after he made social media posts in January last year accusing the association of corruption.
