By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 24 Apr: Concern spread through the Library area of Mussoorie following reports of the discovery of an unidentified individual’s body in a deep gorge located near the Holiday Home Guest House, just beyond the Library Taxi Stand. According to reports, labourers engaged in installing electric poles spotted the body in the gorge and immediately alerted the police. Upon receiving the information, a team from the Mussoorie Kotwali Police reached the scene to assess the situation. Recovering the body proved to be a challenging task due to the extreme depth and rugged terrain of the gorge. Consequently, personnel from the Fire Services and the ITBP were summoned to the site. Through a joint effort, the body was successfully retrieved, placed in a body bag, and sent to the Sub-District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Mussoorie Kotwal Devendra Chauhan stated that death appears to have taken place approximately 20 to 25 days ago. The upper torso of the body has completely decomposed, while the head, neck, and hands show signs of having been gnawed upon by wild animals. Wild rats and insects were also found damaging the remains at the scene, creating a gruesome and horrific sight. The deceased has not yet been identified. The body is that of a male, estimated to be around 35 years of age and approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall. He was wearing blue jeans with a belt. No identification documents or personal belongings were found during the search of the body. Chauhan added that the police have completed the necessary ‘panchnama’ and have dispatched the body for a post-mortem; efforts to establish the identity of the deceased are currently underway by cross-referencing records with neighbouring police stations and missing persons registries. The police are investigating the case from all angles, exploring the possibilities of an accidental fall, suicide, or any other criminal motive. It is worth noting that a climate of fear prevails in the area following this incident; meanwhile, the police have appealed to the public that if the description of any missing acquaintance matches this profile, they should contact the police immediately.
