Natore priest went into hiding, not kidnapped, police say

Walter William Rosario, the missing priest from Natore 'went into hiding and was not kidnapped', police say.

Natore Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 Dec 2017, 06:47 PM
Updated : 2 Dec 2017, 06:47 PM

Walter, 42, has been rescued in Sylhet five days after reportedly going missing from Natore.

Police came up with the claim at a press conference in Natore on Saturday, a day after his rescue.

Natore Superintendent of Police Biplob Bijoy Talukder claimed Rosario did it due to 'depression '.

Earlier in the day, the priest was brought to the district office of the Detective Branch.

The law enforcers said they would produce him in court on Sunday.

Walter, the headmaster of St Louis High Scool, went missing on his way to Jonail village from Bonparha Mission Market on Nov 27.

The family received phone calls from alleged kidnappers who demanded ransom, but police brushed aside the claim as false.

The law enforcers found him at a bus terminal in Sylhet on Friday afternoon.

Natore SP Bilpob told the press conference that Walter was not kidnapped.

"We are sure about this after reviewing his statement and the information we have," he said.

The police officer said the pieces of evidence to back their claim included a CCTV camera footage in which Walter is seen paying the toll for his motorcycle while crossing the Bangabandhu Bridge.

The SP said the priest spent the night in Tangail after crossing the bridge and went to Habiganj where he spent the next night at another hotel after ditching his motorcycle by the side of a road.

He said Habiganj police later recovered the motorbike.

The priest went to Sylhet the next day and called his brother Premal Rosario, SP Biplob said and added police found Walter after Premal gave information about his brother.

The priest also admitted to police that he "went into hiding willingly", Biplob said.

Asked why the priest was 'upset', the official said the police were now investigating those issues.