French tourist goes missing from Varanasi hotel; girlfriend questioned by police

Varanasi: A French tourist, who reached the temple city a few days ago along with his partner, has reportedly gone missing from a hotel, police said on Monday.

Theari Mark Nesti and his partner Velaria Manot reached the city on November 4. They shifted to a hotel in Sigra area here the day after, Superintendent of Police (city) Rajesh Yadav said.

Nesti went to a nearby market yesterday and did not return, he said.

A missing complaint was filed by the hotel staff following which a search operation has been launched for the missing tourist, he said.

Yadav said that the French embassy has been informed of the matter.

"The tourist's girlfriend, who was staying with him in the same room, has also been questioned and we are working on the case," he said.

Police added that the staff of a hotel, where the couple had stayed earlier said that Nesti had visited them the day he went missing, and that he may have lost his way.