Skeletal remains of flood victim found

Residents near the Tambaram canal which joins in Adyar river, who were cleaning the area to chase away snakes, noticed a human skull and some bones. Shocked, they immediately informed the Peerkankaranai police, who rushed to the spot. While searching the area, they found the identity card of one Arun Kumar (24) of Pudukkottai, who had gone missing during the Chennai floods. The police said it might be Arun Kumar’s remains, and sent the skull and bones to Chromepet GH for examination. 

Arun Kumar, an AC mechanic, was staying along with his friend Azharuddin at Anjugam Nagar in Old Perungalathur. During the floods, Azharuddin and Arun Kumar tried to cross the area, which had neck-deep water, and never returned. While Azharuddin’s body was found some days later, Arun’s name was added to list of missing persons. Now, after 29 months, the skeleton of Arun was found near the same place where his friend body was found. Police have informed his family about the development, and are waiting for confirmation of the identity.

“We will have to conduct a DNA test to confirm the identity after which the mortal remains will be handed over to the family,” a police officer said. The state government had announced compensation to the families who lost their kin in 2015 Chennai floods. 

Two days after a human skeleton was found close to a pond in Metu Thumbur village near Avadi, police are trying to ascertain the identity of the deceased person, and are probing various angles including the suspicion of human sacrifice.

Investigation officer said that they could not recover the entire skeleton, and added that the bones could have been dumped there just a few weeks ago. “We have not received any missing person complaint from the residents in and around locality. Also, it is very unlikely that the body would have decomposed at the same spot, as the villagers regularly pass through the spot,” said the officer. A part of skeleton has been sent for forensic lab to gather more details about the person.

The pond near the spot where the skeleton was found is said to be very deep and police are also probing if somebody could have taken out the skeleton from it. As saree and blouse were also retrieved from the spot, police said that it could be a woman, even as local villagers speculated that it could be a case of human sacrifice.