The disappearance of Priyanka, a 21-year-old tribal final-year B.A. student from Sidhi district in Madhya Pradesh, has deepened into a troubling controversy after her family alleged that police cremated skeletal remains — believed to be hers — without handing them over for the last rites. The police, however, maintain that the identity of the deceased has not been scientifically confirmed and that the cremation was carried out only after informing the family.

The Disappearance

Priyanka went missing on 24 June after leaving Sidhi town to return to her home in Churhat. Her family alleged that when they approached the Churhat police station the same day to file a missing person's complaint, they were redirected to Sidhi Kotwali on the grounds that she had last been seen in Sidhi. The missing person's report was eventually registered on 27 June — three days after she was first reported missing.

Discovery of Skeletal Remains

Six days after the report was filed, on the evening of 30 June, Churhat police recovered skeletal remains from the Koshta forest area. The body had decomposed entirely, leaving only a skeleton. Churhat police station in-charge Rita Tripathi said the remains were sent to Sanjay Gandhi Medical College, Rewa, for examination, adding: 'The body had decomposed to such an extent that only the skeleton remained. It was not possible to determine even the gender.'

Family's Allegations

Upon learning of the recovery, Priyanka's family approached police and claimed the remains were hers, saying they recognised the clothes, shoes, and necklace found alongside the skeleton. 'We identified Priyanka from her clothes, shoes and necklace, but despite that, the police did not hand over the body to us,' a family member said. The family further alleged they were called to witness the cremation but were not permitted to perform the last rites themselves. 'The police themselves conducted the cremation in our presence,' another relative claimed.

What the Police Said

Police maintained that the remains could not be released without confirmed identification. 'The family claimed the skeleton could be that of their missing daughter, but without DNA analysis the identity could not be confirmed. Therefore, the remains were not handed over, and the cremation was carried out after the family was informed,' Tripathi said. On the delayed complaint registration, Tripathi stated the referral to Sidhi Kotwali was made because 'the family themselves stated that Sidhi was the girl's last known location.'

What Happens Next

Forensic and DNA examination reports from Sanjay Gandhi Medical College, Rewa, are awaited to establish the identity of the deceased and determine the circumstances of death. Until those results arrive, the fundamental question — whether the skeletal remains are those of Priyanka — remains unresolved. This comes amid broader concerns about the handling of missing persons cases involving tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh, where access to justice has repeatedly been flagged by rights groups as uneven.