Bahrain's 'Gulf News' reporter Violet Godwin still missing!!

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of journalist Violet Godwin,  reporter of Bahrain's leading English daily 'Gulf News'  has deepened, with Mumbai police saying she was in Hyderabad from December 16 to 18, but left again mysteriously leaving all her luggage behind.

Violet’s family has admitted receiving a call from Hyderabad from a woman who sounded like her on December 18, but added that they initially hid this fact from the police.

The caller from Hyderabad did not identify herself, but said she would return to Mumbai in a couple of days, Violet’s family said. However, even though Mahim police went to Hyderabad, Violet has still not been found.

Violet’s brother James filed a complaint with the Mahim police on December 15, alleging she had been kidnapped. It was he who received the call from Hyderabad on December 18, said Senior Inspector B Chandanshive, of the Mahim Police Station.

He alleged that she had been kidnapped by builders with whom he had a dispute over tree-cutting at a construction site.

Police traced the call to a public telephone in Hyderabad with the help of the caller identification facility at the Godwins’ home in Mahim.

Inspector B Rajeev Pillai, of the Mahim police, said, “Hyderabad police have confirmed Violet was in the city after December 16. She stayed at Hotel Tulip Manohar under a fictitious name. It has been verified from photographs that it was Violet who checked into the hotel.

“She checked out on December 18 and disappeared again. She left behind all her luggage in the hotel. After that, there has been no news of her. The police team visiting Hyderabad will hopefully clear the mystery.”

Members of the Godwin family also visited Hyderabad after receiving the call, but said they could not get more information on Violet there.

However, strangely, family members said she had called up a few schools in Hyderabad enquiring about job vacancies for teachers there.

The family said they found this out from the Panjigutta Police Station in Hyderabad, under whose jurisdiction the hotel she stayed in is located.

Violet was last seen by her family on December 15. At 10 am that day, she told her family she was going to buy fish at City Light market, a stone’s throw from their residence on LJ Road, Mahim.

She came to Mumbai on December 9 for a two-week vacation.

James had filed complaints with both police and municipal authorities about the cutting of trees in Ratan Villa compound, which is next to Union House, the building he stays in. The Ratan Villa plot is earmarked for redevelopment.

Mahim police said they interrogated the builder, but did not find any reason to suspect his involvement in Violet’s disappearance

 

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