Canadian cyclist reported missing from Chhattisgarh

A Canadian national, who was on a bicycle expedition from Mumbai to Bastar, was reported missing in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, prompting the police to launch a search to trace his whereabouts.

According to the police, the foreigner has been missing since Monday evening from Singamadgu village under Kistaram police station limits in Sukma. He was on a bicycle expedition and left Mumbai for Bastar on March 14 and reached Sukma in South Bastar region yesterday.

He probably travelled on the route from Bhadrachalam in Telangana to reach Kistaram in Sukma where he was spotted for the last time, a police officer said.

Police launched a search for him soon after receiving a GPS alert from the cyclist.

"We only have information about a Canadian national named John Szlazak being spotted in South Sukma area yesterday. We are trying to verify the facts," Inspector General of Police (in-charge) Bastar Range Sundarraj P said on Tuesday.

"Only after establishing contact with the foreign national, we would be able to say whether he was abducted by someone or he lost his way," he added.