BREAKING: Assam journalist's body found in drain near Guwahati residence

GUWAHATI: A noted journalist from Assam was found dead earlier near his residence in Hatigaon, Guwahati, in the morning today, sending shockwaves across the state.

Last night around 10:30 pm, Purbajyoti Chutia had gone down to the ground floor of his residence to turn off the water motor switch. When he did not return, however, his family became worried.

This morning, an extensive manhunt was conducted and the scribe's body was found inside a one-and-a-half feet deep drain near his house in a mangled state, leading to speculations that he was murdered.

Sources close to the family informed InsideNE that Chetia did not have any enemies. He was also known to be suffering from hypertension.

Chutia, a sports journalist, was employed with 'Niyomiya Barta' a prominent Assamese daily. Earlier, he had worked with the 'Aamar Axom' newspaper.

Earlier in the morning today, a message was circulating in social media, which read, "Journalist purbajyoti chutia (of niyomiya barta) dead body has been found near his residence. His has been murdered in cold blood. Please spread the news. I am his daughter Rea (sic)."

More details awaited.

Meanwhile, authorities are yet to confirm that the scribe was murdered.

"The drain is one and a half feet deep and we believe an unhealthy man might not have been able to crawl out had he fallen by mistake. Preliminary investigation is underway and t is too early to give a verdict," an official said.

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