The search for a 26-year-old man who went missing from the Nipaniya area of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa city ended in tragedy after his body was recovered from a dense forest patch in Uttar Pradesh. The discovery has triggered a joint investigation by the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh police departments into a suspected case of murder.

The deceased, identified as Anup Sen, had been missing since May 18. According to local police sources, Sen had left his residence in the evening on his royal enfield Bullet motorcycle but failed to return, prompting his anxious family to file a missing person's report at the City Kotwali police station the following day.

Body found in Karwi forest

The breakthrough in the multi-state search came late Monday evening when local villagers in the Raypura police station limits of UP's Karwi district (Chitrakoot) noticed a foul smell emanating from the jungle area. Upon verification, UP police personnel discovered a severely decomposed male body dumped in the undergrowth and immediately alerted neighboring districts in Madhya Pradesh.

A team from the Rewa police, accompanied by Sen’s family members, rushed to the spot in Uttar Pradesh early Tuesday morning. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, immediate identification was difficult. However, family members prima facie identified the deceased based on the clothing and shoes found on the body.

Family demands DNA test

Despite the preliminary identification by clothing, the grieving family has expressed deep shock and some reservations about the identity. They have officially requested senior police officials to conduct a DNA test to conclusively establish that the body belongs to Anup Sen before any final funeral rites are conducted.

"We identified the clothes, but the state of the body is terrible. We want absolute certainty, which is why we have requested a DNA verification," a relative told local reporters at the scene on condition of anonymity.

Mobile tracking leads police

Initial technical investigations, including cell tower dumps and tracking of the victim’s mobile location, had earlier shown erratic movements crossing state borders between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Based on these electronic clues, investigative teams had been scouring suspect locations along the border districts for the past three days.

During the tracking process, investigators also managed to locate the victim's missing Bullet motorcycle, which had been abandoned several kilometers away from where the body was dumped. The recovery of the vehicle added significant weight to the theory of foul play, leading Rewa police to officially shift their line of inquiry toward a homicide investigation.

Substance abuse link suspected

As the probe intensified, the role of a local acquaintance of Sen emerged under the scanner. Sources familiar with the matter said that the prime suspect, who is currently on the run, is known to be a substance abuser. The two had reportedly got acquainted only a few weeks prior to the incident through mutual friends.

While the main accused remains at large, the Rewa City Kotwali police confirmed they have taken the suspect's brother into custody for sustained interrogation. Local authorities believe the brother may have crucial information regarding the planning of the crime or the route taken to discard the body in UP.

Autopsy report awaited

Senior police officials are maintaining a cautious stance regarding the exact motive behind the suspected killing, stating that a clear picture will emerge only after medical examiners complete their evaluation.

"At this stage, it appears to be a case of murder. However, whether the death was caused by strangulation, a physical assault, or other means can only be verified once the post-mortem report is handed over by the UP medical authorities," CSP Rajiv Pathak said.

The City Kotwali police team, in coordination with the UP Raypura police, has formed multiple tracking squads to nab the prime accused. Local authorities have assured that a major breakthrough and a formal disclosure of the motive will be made within the next 24 to 48 hours as soon as the autopsy findings are officially filed.