Skeletal Remains Found in 2019 Burial Case in Kerala
Kerala Police find skeletal remains in a 2019 drug overdose burial case.
In a breakthrough in a chilling cold case, Kerala Police have recovered skeletal remains believed to be those of Vijil, a 35-year-old man from West Hill, who vanished on March 24, 2019. Authorities suspect that Vijil was buried by his friends in a wetland near Sarovaram Park after they claimed he died of a drug overdose, marking a grim turn in a case that had remained unsolved for over six years.
According to police, Vijil was last traced to Sarovaram Park, where his mobile activity ceased at 2 PM on the day he went missing. A missing person case was registered at the time, but earlier attempts to locate his body were thwarted by waterlogged conditions in the area. The case was reopened recently during a review of unresolved cases, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Nikhil, 35, of Eranjpalam, and S. Deepesh, 27, of Vengeri, on August 25. A third suspect, Renjith of Poovathuparambu, remains at large.
The accused confessed that Vijil collapsed while consuming brown sugar with them at an isolated spot in Sarovaram Park. Believing him to be dead, they abandoned his motorcycle near a railway station, disposed of his mobile phone, and buried his body in a wetland two days later. They further claimed to have returned months later to collect some skeletal remains, which they immersed at Varkala as part of rituals.
Also Read: Supreme Court Defers Bail Pleas in Delhi Riots Case to September 19
Following their arrests, police resumed a search of the marshy land on September 11, recovering clothing and shoes suspected to belong to Vijil. On September 12, skeletal remains, including rib bones, teeth, and parts of a jaw, were unearthed. These remains will undergo DNA testing at a forensic laboratory to confirm their identity.
The accused face charges under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 297 (trespass to burial places), and 34 (common intention). With their custody set to expire soon, they are scheduled to be produced in court. The case has reignited discussions on drug-related incidents and the challenges of resolving long-pending investigations in the region.
Also Read: Bengaluru YouTuber’s Flat Raided in Dharmasthala Defamation Case
