Widespread panic gripped the Chonkiwala area in the Nalagarh subdivision of Himachal Pradesh's Solan district on Monday evening after the body of a 21-year-old migrant youth was found lying in dense roadside bushes. The deceased was identified as Rajiv, a native of Lakshmipur district in Uttar Pradesh, who resided with his family in Kripalpur and worked as a daily-wage labourer. He had been reported missing under mysterious circumstances for the past three days, prompting frantic searches by his relatives.
Missing for Three Days Following Routine Departure
According to available details, Rajiv had stepped out of his residence three days ago in the morning after finishing his meal, appearing completely routine. However, he failed to return home by evening. Growing deeply anxious as hours passed without any word, his family members searched for him across multiple locations, asking acquaintances and checking nearby areas, but found no trace of his whereabouts. With no leads forthcoming, the family formally lodged a missing person complaint at the Nalagarh police station to seek administrative assistance in locating him.
Foul Odour Alerted Local Resident
On Monday evening, a local woman walking near Chonkiwala noticed a foul odour emanating from the adjoining roadside bushes. Upon inspecting the vicinity, she observed something suspicious concealed among the dense thickets and immediately alerted local residents and administrative authorities. A search of the bushes revealed the body of a young man lying motionless. Police personnel reached the spot shortly after receiving the alert and cordoned off the area. The missing youth's family members subsequently arrived and positively identified the body as Rajiv based on his clothing and personal items found with him.
Family Suspects Premeditated Murder
The deceased's father, Mahendra, stated that their family hailed from Lakshmipur district in Uttar Pradesh and had migrated to the industrial belt, living in Kripalpur to earn a livelihood through daily-wage manual work. He mentioned that his 21-year-old son Rajiv worked alongside him at construction and labour sites to support the household. Mahendra recounted that Rajiv disappeared three days ago right after leaving home, and despite continuous efforts and filing a police report, they could not locate him. Expressing grave suspicions, the grieving father alleged that unknown individuals might have murdered his son approximately two days prior and dumped the body inside the thickets to conceal the crime. He urged senior police and administrative officials to conduct an exhaustive investigation, trace the culprits, and take stringent legal action against those responsible.
Autopsy Report Awaited to Determine Exact Cause of Death
Rajiv's friend Bansi also shared that Rajiv had been missing for around three days, leaving his peers worried. According to Bansi, the condition of the recovered body had deteriorated significantly, pointing to the likelihood that it had remained exposed outdoors for a couple of days. He echoed the family's concerns, stating that someone likely killed Rajiv and disposed of his body in the bushes. Demanding a fair and impartial enquiry, he called for swift accountability. Police personnel have taken custody of the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination. Investigating officials noted that the actual cause and manner of death can only be ascertained once the formal autopsy findings and forensic evaluations are submitted, following which further legal procedures will be determined.
