In Odisha, bodies mysteriously disappear from cremation ground; 5 go missing in single night

In a shocking development, more than 30 bodies have allegedly gone missing from a cremation ground in Maninathpur village under Bhandaripokhari block of Odisha’s Bhadrak district over the past several years, triggering panic among residents and prompting a police investigation.

According to villagers, bodies buried at the cremation ground located on the banks of the Baitarani river have been mysteriously disappearing between 11 days and three months after burial. Locals claim that since 2016, over 30 bodies have gone missing under unexplained circumstances.

The issue came to the forefront on January 12 this year when five bodies reportedly vanished in a single night, intensifying fear in the village and nearby areas.

Also Read: Strange! Buried dead bodies 'going missing' from crematorium in Odisha

"The body was buried in the cremation ground after death. However, it vanished after two months," alleged Kanchan Samal, a resident of Maninathpur village.

"A person died before two months following which the body was buried in the cremation ground. However, we are not finding any trace of the body for the last 10 days. The body has been stolen. Another five bodies have also been stolen," said Himanshu Behuria, another resident of Maninathpur village.

As per local tradition, deceased family members are buried at the riverside cremation ground. However, families allege that weeks or months after the burial, the bodies are missing.

The matter reached the police after Bandan Nayak, a resident of the village, lodged a formal complaint at Bhandaripokhari Police Station, alleging that his father’s body had disappeared from the burial site.

Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation. The Superintendent of Police, accompanied by a scientific team and a dog squad, visited the cremation ground to examine the site. However, no conclusive findings have been reported so far.

"My father died on January 19. However, we found that the body was stolen on February 12. Following the development, I lodged a complaint at the police station on February 15. Subsequently, IIC and Superintendent of Police, accompanied by a scientific team and a dog squad, visited the cremation ground to examine the site," said Bandan Nayak, a resident of Maninathpur village.

"IIC and SDPO had visited the spot along with a scientific team. An investigation into the matter is currently underway," said Bhadrak Bhadrak Additional SP Arup Abhishek Behera.

Several theories are circulating among villagers, ranging from suspected occult practices to fears of an organised racket involved in illegal activities such as organ trafficking or the unlawful use of corpses for medical purposes.

Police have stated that all possible angles are being probed. Meanwhile, anxious residents are awaiting clarity as authorities work to unravel the mystery behind the missing bodies.