Bhatkal: In a span of one week, three married Muslim women have gone missing under mysterious circumstances in Bhatkal, sparking concerns among residents about a potential organized gang involved in these disappearances.

The latest case emerged on Thursday, involving a 32-year-old schoolteacher residing in Umar Street Third Cross. According to police, two days ago, the woman left her home, stating she was going on a school picnic with students. However, she failed to return. Subsequently, she called her husband, who is employed in the Gulf, and informed him that she hadn’t gone on a picnic but was instead planning to move to another city in the Gulf for a job opportunity. It remains unclear if she has already departed or is still preparing to leave. Authorities are working to determine her current whereabouts and investigating the identity of those who allegedly offered her employment, as well as any individuals she may have traveled with.

Two other disappearances were reported earlier this week at the Bhatkal Rural Police Station, both involving married women with two children each. In one case, a 31-year-old tailor from Talha Street, Hanifabad, who had recently moved with her family to a rented home in Moosa Nagar, told her family she was going to visit her in-laws but did not return. In the other case, a woman from the Mango Farm area, identified as a 33-year-old mother of two, also went missing after leaving home with her children.

The consecutive cases of missing women have led to speculations that there may be additional unreported cases. These sudden disappearances have left the affected families in distress and created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty within the community.

Separate missing persons cases have been filed for each woman. Public concern has risen as suspicions grow about whether these women are truly missing or if they voluntarily left their homes. There is concern that a gang may be involved in persuading women to leave, possibly by offering jobs in the Gulf under false pretenses, only to exploit them for illegal purposes.

The community urges local social organizations and Gulf-based associations to respond proactively to these troubling incidents.

The Bhatkal police request anyone with information regarding the missing women to contact Police Inspector at Mobile Number: 9480805252.