Skeletal remains of missing Odisha youth found near Junei river
Family members of Rakesh Malik allege the 22-year-old was murdered by a neighbour following a land dispute.
A human skeleton believed to belong to 22-year-old Rakesh Malik was recovered from near the bank of the Junei river in Matiakana village on Monday, according to The New Indian Express.
The youth had been missing for the past four months. Family members identified the remains based on the clothes, belt, and shoes found with the skeleton.
Tension erupted in the Alkund area after the discovery, leading villagers to detain police personnel who arrived to investigate. The officers were released after Jajpur Town Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Prasant Kumar Majhi held discussions with the villagers and assured them of legal action.
Rakesh's father, Sridhar Malik, alleged that the Alkund police did not take their initial complaint seriously after the youth went missing in the first week of July. He claimed the family lost their son due to police inaction.
SDPO Majhi stated that the deceased's father has filed a new complaint alleging the youth was murdered by a neighbour over a land dispute between the two families.
The skeletal remains have been seized and sent for forensic and DNA examination. Majhi added that the exact cause of death will be ascertained once the forensic report arrives and further investigation continues.