Bulandshahr Village Head Found Mutilated in Vacant Field; Family Alleges Foul Play
In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, the mutilated body of a 65-year-old village head was discovered in a vacant field in the Salempur area of Bulandshahr on Sunday. The recovery came a full nine days after the man had been reported missing, with the body bearing horrific injuries including a gouged-out eye, a severed thumb, part of a foot missing, and fingernails pulled out.
Family Alleges Kidnapping and Murder Amidst Gruesome Discovery
The family of the deceased, identified as Prahlad Singh, a resident of Samaspur village under the Chhatari police station limits, immediately alleged kidnapping and murder upon seeing the condition of the body. They expressed outrage and grief, claiming that the severe mutilations could not be accidental. However, police authorities presented a contrasting narrative, stating that preliminary medical assessments attributed the injuries to animal bites.
Bulandshahr Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Singh provided details, explaining, "The cause of death remains unknown as per the postmortem report, and the viscera have been preserved for further analysis. The injuries observed on the body were consistent with animal bites. It appears the man had likely been deceased for more than 48 hours before discovery, with the body dumped at the location, after which decomposition and subsequent animal activity set in."
Background of the Deceased and Timeline of Disappearance
Prahlad Singh, a retired administrative officer who had taken voluntary retirement from Dibai tehsil, had won the gram pradhan election in 2021. On February 7, he left his home in Awas Vikas Colony to visit his village, Samaspur. A neighbour reportedly dropped him at the roadways bus stand. When he failed to reach his destination or return home by evening, his family grew concerned and lodged a formal missing complaint at the Bulandshahr Nagar Kotwali police station.
His son, Harveer Singh, who works as a stenographer at the Aligarh District Magistrate office, recounted the events, stating that his father had departed that morning with the intention of visiting the village. The family's anxiety mounted as days passed without any sign of him.
Police Investigation and Evidence Collected
Superintendent of Police (City) Shankar Prasad revealed that crucial evidence was found on the body. A roadways bus ticket from the Kaushambi depot, issued on February 7 at 11:03 AM for travel from Bulandshahr to Ahmadgarh, was discovered in Prahlad Singh's pocket, along with Rs 8,335 in cash. Additionally, a bag containing clothes was recovered nearby, adding to the clues being examined by investigators.
Despite these findings, family members have leveled serious allegations of police inaction following the initial missing report. They claimed, "No serious effort was made to trace him," expressing frustration over what they perceive as a lack of urgency in the search efforts.
Police Response and Ongoing Probe
In response to the allegations, police officials defended their actions, asserting that search teams were deployed promptly after the complaint was registered. SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh emphasized, "We are actively analysing CCTV footage, call detail records, and other forensic evidence to establish the precise sequence of events. A case is being registered under relevant sections, and we expect a breakthrough in the investigation soon."
The authorities have assured the public that all aspects of the case are being thoroughly investigated, including the possibility of foul play versus the animal bite theory. The community remains on edge as details continue to emerge, with many calling for a swift and transparent resolution to this tragic incident.
