Man found dead near Kanksa temple in Burdwan, autopsy ordered
Synopsis
A 33-year-old man was found hanging from a tree near a temple in Kanksa, Burdwan, hours after he went missing on Monday evening. Whether it is suicide or foul play remains unconfirmed — police have ordered an autopsy and launched a full investigation.
Key Takeaways
Laxmi Ram Mandi , 33 , was found dead in a forest near Shyampura temple , Kanksa , Burdwan , on Tuesday morning, 20 October 2026 .
The body was found hanging from a tree with knees bent and feet on the ground; a red cloth was wrapped around his neck.
Mandi had gone missing on Monday evening ; a family-initiated search the previous night proved unsuccessful.
The Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate has launched a full investigation; cause of death to be confirmed after autopsy at Durgapur Sub-district Hospital .
Police have not yet ruled out foul play or confirmed suicide pending the post-mortem report.
A 33-year-old man was found dead in a forest adjacent to the Shyampura temple in Kanksa, Burdwan district, West Bengal, on Tuesday morning, police confirmed, adding that an investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of his death.
How the Body Was Discovered
The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Ram Mandi, a resident of the Dangal area of Bankati gram panchayat in Kanksa. According to police, the body was found hanging from a tree with knees bent and feet touching the ground. Mandi was wearing a red dhoti and a white shirt, and a red cloth was found wrapped around his neck.
Local residents told police that Mandi had gone missing on Monday evening. His family grew concerned when he did not return home by late night, prompting a search of nearby areas and the homes of acquaintances. He was not located that night.
What Police Have Said
An official of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate stated: 'Whether this is an extreme measure or death due to some other reason will be ascertained only after the autopsy. We are conducting a full investigation into the incident.'
The Malandighi police outpost in Kanksa was alerted after residents found the body on Tuesday morning. Officers reached the spot and recovered the body, which was subsequently sent to Durgapur Sub-district Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Community Reaction and Next Steps
Residents of the area are reportedly in a state of shock following the discovery. According to police, the cause of death — and whether any foul play is involved — will only be formally determined after the autopsy report is received.
Investigators are currently piecing together Mandi's movements from Monday evening until the time his body was found. The probe is ongoing, with authorities expected to take further steps based on the autopsy findings.
Point of View
Feet still touching the ground — leave the cause of death genuinely ambiguous, and the police have been measured in not pre-empting the autopsy. What the case does highlight is the recurring challenge of unexplained deaths in rural West Bengal's peri-urban fringes, where quick community detection and delayed forensic processing can complicate timely answers. The community's visible anxiety, noted by police themselves, underscores that residents are not satisfied with an open-ended probe. Accountability here will hinge on how promptly and transparently the autopsy findings are communicated.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was found dead near the Kanksa temple in Burdwan?
The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Ram Mandi, a 33-year-old resident of the Dangal area of Bankati gram panchayat in Kanksa, Burdwan district, West Bengal. His body was discovered on Tuesday morning, 20 October 2026, in a forest adjacent to the Shyampura temple.
What were the circumstances in which the body was found?
Mandi's body was found hanging from a tree with his knees bent and feet touching the ground. He was wearing a red dhoti and white shirt, and a red cloth was wrapped around his neck. Police have not yet confirmed whether the death was a suicide or due to other causes.
What action has the police taken?
The Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate has launched a full investigation into the incident. The body has been sent to Durgapur Sub-district Hospital for autopsy, and investigators are determining the cause of death based on the post-mortem findings.
When did Laxmi Ram Mandi go missing?
Mandi reportedly disappeared on Monday evening, 19 October 2026. His family raised the alarm when he did not return home by late night, and a search was conducted in nearby areas and at the homes of acquaintances, but he was not found until Tuesday morning.
Is foul play suspected in the Kanksa death?
Police have not yet ruled out foul play. An official of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate stated that whether the death was 'an extreme measure or due to some other reason' will be confirmed only after the autopsy report is received.
