Did Kerala techie fake 4-day forest survival story? BJP files complaint, flags ‘suspicious behaviour’

MADIKERI: Kodagu district BJP rural unit has filed a complaint with Napoklu police demanding an investigation into the missing case of Kerala trekker at Tadiandamol.Led by P Danoj, general secretary of district BJP Rural Mandal, several BJP workers visited Napoklu police station on Tuesday and filed a complaint against GS Sharanya, the 36-year-old from Kozhikode in Kerala who went missing in Tadiandamol on April 2. The members demanded that the Napoklu police further investigate the case and expressed doubts over Sharanya's behaviour.Speaking to reporters after submitting the complaint, Danoj claimed that the behaviour of Sharanya, who was found four days after going missing from Tadiandamol, has raised suspicions. "It is not possible to stay in the dense forest for four days without food. Naxal activities are going on in all parts, and this case has given rise to further suspicion," he alleged.BJP functionary Ambi Cariappa alleged the case was a publicity stunt. He added that the case would have brought a bad name to Kodagu tourism.Sharanya, however, has maintained that her experience was a genuine survival ordeal and said it has not diminished her passion for trekking. Speaking from her home in Nadapuram, she described the forest as “a place of striking beauty and quiet companionship” rather than fear. Recounting her four-day ordeal, she said she had only a 500ml water bottle and no food, surviving by drinking stream water. She stayed put on the first day due to leg pain after a long trek, later moving to open areas to improve visibility for search teams. Heavy rain disrupted her attempts to climb to higher ground on the third day. On the fourth day, she managed to attract attention by shaking a tree after hearing locals calling out, leading to her rescue. She said she did not encounter any dangerous wildlife during the period. Sharanya explained that she got separated from her group during descent from the peak and lost her way while attempting to rejoin them. She briefly regained mobile network and informed her homestay about her situation. Despite the ordeal, she has said she plans to continue trekking and is already considering a future trip to Tawang.