Bhanjanagar (Ganjam): A human skeleton was recovered from a hillock inside the Baghmara forest under Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district, with police suspecting it could be the remains of a 55-year-old man who had been missing for the past 15 days.
The skeleton was found on a hill located around 300 metres from the main road near G. Rambha in Dadarlunda Panchayat. According to police, preliminary examination suggests the remains are those of a male.
Investigators said a gamucha (towel) tied to a tree near the hill contained a skull and strands of hair, while other skeletal remains were found scattered below. Some skin tissue was reportedly still visible on the upper portion of the body.
After receiving information about the discovery, police reached the spot and launched an investigation. An unnatural death case has been registered, and the remains were recovered in the presence of local residents before being sent to the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) Department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, for post-mortem examination.
Bhanjanagar police station IIC Jibananda Jena said the identity of the deceased has not yet been officially established, though investigators suspect the remains may belong to Mission Pradhan (55) of Mahulpalli village near Birikote.
Pradhan had reportedly gone missing on June 9 while returning home with family members. According to police, he told his relatives he was going to relieve himself near G. Rambha before suddenly running towards the forest. When he failed to return, family members searched for him and later lodged a missing person complaint at Bhanjanagar police station.
Police said Pradhan was reportedly suffering from mental health issues. A missing person case had been registered following a written complaint from his family.
Family members who visited the recovery site reportedly identified the remains as Pradhan’s based on the clothing found with the skeleton. However, police said both the identity of the deceased and the cause of death would be confirmed only after the post-mortem and forensic examination reports are received.
In a separate but similar incident earlier this month, another human skeleton was recovered near a canal at Gudipadar village under Dumakumpa Panchayat in the same police station area. Police had then suspected the remains belonged to 71-year-old Sundari Nayak, a local resident who had been reported missing. Investigations in that case are also underway.
