Sundargarh: Koida police recovered a human skeleton and bag under a bridge near Kalata village on National Highway 520 here on Sunday morning.
Acccording to sources, the bag belongs to one Manoj Paswan of neighbouring Chhattisgarh who was staying at Kusumdihi village in Koida. Police have seized his identity cards, and documents with the bag as evidence.
Manoj (40) had been staying with his wife and children at Kusumdihi for several years. He, however, was nowhere to be seen since a month. When locals informed police about it, they found that there was no missing complaint in this connection.
A forensic team, which arrived from Rourkela, ascertained the skeleton was lying there since one month. Preliminary investigation revealed it was of Manoj, police added.
“The 40-year-old had left his native and settled in Kusumdihi with his wife and children. Whether it was a case of murder or suicide is being ascertained,” a police officer said.
Koida police have registered a case and started investigating the case further.