176 unidentified bodies found in Jamshedpur

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur: A disturbing trend has emerged in Jamshedpur, with 176 unidentified bodies recovered from January to November this year. Of these, only 26 have been identified, leaving the remaining 150 lost in anonymity while their families endure anguish, waiting for answers. These bodies, discovered in rivers, drains, bushes, and other deserted areas, have raised serious concerns about the state of law and order in the district. The continuous recovery of such bodies has posed a significant challenge for the police, whose working methods are now under scrutiny.

Antyodaya Ek Abhiyan Sanstha, an organization that conducts cremations for unclaimed bodies, reported handling 90 such cases this year, with 38 occurring since August alone. The Government Railway Police Station area has been particularly affected, with local police bearing the responsibility of identifying the bodies and performing last rites. Despite efforts, the sheer volume of cases has turned unidentified bodies into a persistent issue, with many cases remaining unresolved.

Recent discoveries have included bodies recovered from the Narwa River in Jadugoda and from areas under Parsudih and MGM police stations. While some of these cases are suspected murders, such as two women and a youth whose bodies were dumped in Parsudih, others remain shrouded in mystery. In some instances, progress has been made. For example, the murder of Asha Devi Bhumij in the MGM police station area led to an FIR lodged by her son, while the case of Raja Ram Soren, whose body was found in Bodam, resulted in nine arrests. However, many cases remain buried in police files due to the inability to identify the deceased.

Police follow standard procedures when an unidentified body is found, including cordoning off the area, documenting the scene with photographs, and recording physical details such as height, complexion, and clothing. Postmortem and viscera examinations are conducted to determine the cause of death. Photographs of the deceased are published in newspapers, and databases of missing persons are consulted in hopes of establishing an identity. If no claim is made within 72 hours, the police perform the last rites, though this period is sometimes extended.

Despite these efforts, the rising number of unidentified bodies underscores significant gaps in investigation and public safety. The inability to solve these cases or identify the deceased not only challenges the effectiveness of the police but also highlights the need for more robust measures to prevent such tragedies and provide closure to grieving families.