A man who went missing on the night of October 20 was found dead in a drainage channel near his home in Latehar district on October 26, six days after his disappearance, police said. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
The deceased, identified as Abhishek Ekka, lived at Pandri Tola in Hamee village under Mahuadnar police station limits. The drain where his body was recovered was barely 200 metres from his residence, said Mahuadnar SDPO Puja Kumari.
Speaking to this correspondent, Kumari said the body was retrieved late on the night of October 26, with its discovery occurring by chance. Due to severe decomposition and skin maceration, a post-mortem examination could not be conducted at Latehar Sadar Hospital. The body was subsequently sent to RIMS, Ranchi, on October 27 for examination, she added.
Police said the deceased's family reported his disappearance several days after he went missing. His sister, Neha Ekka, lodged a written complaint at Mahuadnar police station on October 24, four days after his disappearance. The complaint was registered as a missing-person case, said officer-in-charge Amit Kumar Ravidas.
According to the SDPO, Abhishek was last seen at around 9 pm on October 20, while his mobile phone had reportedly been switched off by 5 pm that day, citing information provided by his sister.
Police said Abhishek had been an accused in a murder case registered in 2025 and had spent time in jail before securing bail.
However, the police said a preliminary assessment did not indicate a revenge killing linked to that case and described the death as accidental, with no foul play suspected at present.
Kumari said police would take appropriate action if the family lodged a complaint alleging murder and naming any co-villager or villagers as suspects.