Tension and concern gripped the Sol Gram Panchayat area under Gurundia police limits in Sundaragada district after a human skeleton was discovered inside the dense Kantamal forest.
According to available reports, the skeletal remains were first spotted by a few local villagers who had ventured into the forest. Frightened by the sight, they immediately alerted the local authorities. A police team rushed to the scene shortly after to secure the area and initiate a formal probe.
Preliminary suspicions suggest that the remains may belong to Rajendra Barla, a resident of the Sol region who went missing on August 1. Despite extensive search efforts by his family and fellow villagers over the past month, no trace of him had been found until now.
However, police officials emphasised that the identity of the remains has not yet been officially confirmed. Authorities are preparing to undergo forensic and DNA testing to establish a definitive match and determine the precise cause and timeline of death.
Investigating officers are currently probing all angles, including whether Rajendra ventured into the forest on his own or if he fell victim to a crime where his body was intentionally disposed of in the isolated area. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
