The dense, remote forests of Uttarakhand's Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary became the site of a grim discovery when local women stumbled upon human remains. The incident, which has shed light on a two-month-old missing person's case, unfolded in the Almora district, sending authorities into a swift investigation.
Discovery and Initial Response
A group of women from a nearby village entered the sanctuary's forests to collect grass. It was during this routine task that they spotted the partially skeletal body, prompting them to immediately alert both the police and the forest department. Upon receiving the information, a combined team comprising police officers, forest department officials, and a revenue team rushed to the remote location.
A preliminary inspection of the scene indicated that the remains were quite old, having lain in the secluded wilderness for a considerable period. The body was found in the Suniyapani area of the Binsar Sanctuary, approximately 7 kilometers from Sinoli village. The scene presented a harrowing picture: one leg of the skeleton still had a sock and shoe, while only a sock remained on the other. Bones were scattered nearby, with only parts of the leg bones up to the thigh remaining intact.
Clues Lead to Identification
The key to solving the mystery of the deceased's identity came from items recovered at the scene. Alongside the remains, authorities found a pair of pants, a belt, a vest, and crucially, a slip of paper. This slip had two mobile numbers written on it. Acting on this lead, the police called one of the numbers.
"We called one of the numbers and reached the deceased's family, who confirmed his identity as Govind Lal, aged 55," stated a police officer involved in the case. The deceased was identified as Govind Lal, a 55-year-old resident of Kafligair in Bageshwar district. His family had been searching for him for nearly two months and had officially lodged a missing person complaint at the Jhiroli police station on October 30.
Suspected Wild Animal Attack and Ongoing Probe
The condition of the body and the location have led authorities and locals to strongly suspect the involvement of wild animals. "There is a strong possibility that the man was attacked by a wild animal. Leopard scat and paw marks were seen in the surrounding area," said resident Ishwar Joshi. Police also conjecture that the body, being around two months old, may have been partially consumed by animals, though this is yet to be confirmed forensically.
However, officials are not ruling out other possibilities. Binsar sanctuary range officer Manoj Sanwal, who inspected the site with his team, remarked, "The case appears suspicious at first glance." To get definitive answers, a forensic team has collected samples from the spot for a detailed examination. Authorities have clarified that the exact cause of death will only be determined after the forensic investigation is completed.
The discovery has brought a tragic end to the search for Govind Lal, highlighting the dangers of the remote forest terrain while leaving unanswered questions about his final moments.
