Polling Official's Decomposed Body Found in Remote Forest After 9-Day Search
Guwahati: The nude and decomposed body of a 45-year-old polling official, who had been missing since polling day on April 9, was discovered in a remote area of Karbi Anglong district, officials confirmed on Sunday. The body was recovered nine days after his disappearance, following an extensive search operation that included drone surveillance.
Discovery in Remote Forest Area
The body of Cornelius Kindu was found in the Rongmongwey area, approximately 180 kilometers from the district headquarters at Diphu. A few local residents spotted the remains on Saturday and immediately alerted the authorities, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pushpraj Singh.
"The polling official suddenly fell ill and was advised to sit outside the polling station. He thereafter went missing. On Saturday, a local spotted the body and informed the police, and he was identified as Kindu," the SSP stated.
Challenging Terrain and Search Efforts
Singh emphasized that the location where the body was found is extremely remote and difficult to access. "It is a forested area, and it takes around three to four hours on foot from the nearest village to reach the spot. The location falls near Kuthori, about 180km from Diphu," he explained.
Authorities had launched a comprehensive search operation after Kindu failed to return to his residence in Diphu. Despite deploying drones to scan the hilly and densely forested terrain, the initial search efforts yielded no results until the body was discovered by locals.
Background and Investigation
Cornelius Kindu, a resident of the same district, was serving as a polling officer at the No.-19 Sarpo Kathar LP School polling station on April 9. After the postmortem examination, his body was handed over to his family for last rites.
However, the exact cause of death remains undetermined at this time, according to police officials. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances that led to his disappearance and subsequent death in such an isolated location.
This tragic incident highlights the challenges faced by election officials working in remote and inaccessible regions during polling activities. The use of advanced technology like drones in search operations underscores the difficulties in navigating the rugged terrain of Karbi Anglong district.
