Patna: A decomposed human head wrapped in polythene was recovered from a canal in Banka district on Sunday, intensifying an investigation into the suspected murder of a 16-year-old girl whose mother has already been arrested in the case.According to police, the head was found near Kantiya village under Belhar police station after local residents spotted stray dogs tearing apart a polythene packet near the western main canal of the Badua reservoir. Suspecting something unusual, villagers approached the spot and discovered what appeared to be a human head before alerting the police.A police team recovered the remains, while Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts collected samples from the spot. The head has been sent for post-mortem, and DNA testing will be conducted to establish its identity. The recovery was the latest in a series of discoveries of suspected human remains from the canal over the past five days.Since Oct 28, police have recovered seven body parts, a human hand and now a head from the water body after receding water levels exposed the remains. One of the recovered body parts had an intravenous cannula attached to it.Investigators suspect the remains belong to the missing daughter of Santosh Singh, a resident of Baghonia village, though her identity is yet to be confirmed through DNA analysis.The probe gained momentum after village watchman Chaudhary Paswan allegedly told police that Santosh Singh, his wife Sunita Devi, cousin Vijay Singh and others had murdered the girl and dismembered her body to destroy evidence. Based on the information, police registered a second FIR on Oct 29 and arrested Sunita Devi, who has been sent to judicial custody. Santosh Singh and Vijay Singh remain absconding.Local residents have offered differing accounts about the circumstances leading to the girl’s disappearance, including claims that her family opposed her communication with an unidentified man. Others alleged she died after falling ill and being taken for treatment. However, police have not confirmed these claims.Belhar SHO Vijayendra Kumar said one accused had been arrested and raids were underway to nab the remaining suspects. Belhar SDPO Ravindra Mohan Prasad said the recovered head was highly decomposed and only DNA analysis would determine whether it belonged to the same person whose other remains were found in the canal.Police, assisted by forensic experts, a dog squad and the technical cell, are continuing the search and investigation. Authorities said the identity of the deceased and the exact cause of death would be established after DNA and post-mortem reports are received.
