The parents of a missing Guwahati college student have taken their desperate search to the streets, launching a hunger strike outside local government offices as frustration mounts over what they describe as a stalled investigation into their son's disappearance.

Surajit, whose full identity has not been publicly disclosed, vanished weeks ago under circumstances that remain unclear. His parents, exhausted by sleepless nights and fruitless appeals, sat down on the pavement Monday morning with a single demand: that authorities treat their son's case with the urgency it deserves.

"Every day that passes is another day we don't know if our child is safe, if he's hurt, if he's calling for us," Surajit's mother told reporters gathered at the scene, according to the Sentinel Assam. "We are not leaving until someone tells us what happened to our boy."

A Family's Anguish Goes Public

The hunger strike represents a dramatic escalation in a case that has quietly haunted Guwahati's academic community. College students in the city have begun sharing Surajit's photo on social media, organizing search parties, and demanding greater transparency from local law enforcement.

The family's public protest follows what they describe as weeks of bureaucratic inertia. Despite filing a missing persons report and meeting repeatedly with investigators, Surajit's parents say they have received little substantive information about the progress of the search or the leads being pursued.

Their decision to stage a hunger strike reflects a pattern increasingly common across India, where families of missing persons turn to public demonstrations when they feel institutional mechanisms have failed them. The tactic has proven effective in drawing media attention and political pressure, though it comes at considerable personal cost.

Questions Mount Over Investigation

Local authorities have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing but have declined to provide details, citing the sensitivity of the case. This silence has only deepened the family's frustration and fueled speculation within the community about what might have happened.

The circumstances of Surajit's disappearance remain murky. It is unclear whether he vanished from campus, from his home, or while traveling between the two. The family has not disclosed whether there were any warning signs, conflicts, or unusual behavior in the days before he went missing.

What is clear is that the case has struck a nerve in Guwahati, a city where college students make up a significant portion of the population and where parents send their children with the expectation that they will be safe. The fear that a young person can simply vanish without explanation has rattled that sense of security.

Community Pressure Builds

Student organizations and civil society groups have begun rallying around the family's cause. Several local activists joined the hunger strike Tuesday, bringing water and medical supplies while demanding that government officials meet with Surajit's parents.

"This is not just about one family anymore," said one student activist who asked not to be named. "This is about whether our institutions actually care when one of us goes missing. Right now, it doesn't feel like they do."

The case also highlights broader concerns about the resources and training available to police investigating missing persons cases in India. While high-profile disappearances often receive intense attention, families of ordinary citizens frequently report feeling ignored or dismissed when they seek help.

Surajit's parents have specifically called on both police and state government officials to "intensify the investigation" and "establish what happened" to their son. They are asking for a more coordinated search effort, greater use of technology and forensic resources, and regular updates on the case's progress.

The Long Wait for Answers

As the hunger strike enters its third day, medical volunteers have begun monitoring the health of Surajit's parents, both of whom are refusing food but accepting water. Local doctors have warned that prolonged fasting could pose serious health risks, particularly given the emotional and physical toll the family has already endured.

The protest has drawn the attention of local politicians, several of whom have visited the site and promised to raise the issue with senior officials. Whether these assurances will translate into concrete action remains to be seen.

For now, Surajit's parents remain seated on the pavement, surrounded by photographs of their son and handwritten signs demanding justice. They have vowed not to move until they receive answers—or until their bodies give out.

"We brought him into this world," his father said, his voice breaking. "We cannot rest until we know what happened to him. That is what any parent would do."

The investigation continues, though at a pace that offers little comfort to a family counting each day their son remains missing. In a city of millions, one young man's absence has become impossible to ignore.