Asansol, 26 July (H.S.): The body of a six-year-old boy, who had been missing since Saturday, was recovered from a forested area near his home under Asansol South police station in West Burdwan district on Sunday morning.

According to the police and local sources, the deceased has been identified as Ritwik Ruj (6), a resident of Turi Para in Ward No. 54. Ritwik went missing on Saturday morning after his parents had left for work. His father, Chhotu Ruj, is a mason, while his mother, Purnima Ruj, works as a domestic help.

When the couple returned home, they found their son missing and launched a search. After failing to trace him, they lodged a missing person complaint with the Asansol South Police Station on Saturday evening. Police also initiated a search operation, but no breakthrough was made.

On Sunday morning, two local youths noticed a pack of dogs barking in a nearby forest. When they went to investigate, they found the child's body and immediately informed the police.

The incident has raised several questions, as the boy's family claimed they had searched the same forest area on Saturday but had found no trace of him. The recovery of the body from the same location a day later has deepened the mystery.

We had gone out for work in the morning. When we returned, our son was missing. I don't know what happened to him, the child's mother, Purnima Ruj, said.

Local BJP leader Ankur Roy said the child had been missing since Saturday morning and that the body was recovered on Sunday. He urged people not to jump to conclusions before the investigation is completed.

The police have sent the body for post-mortem and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death. Investigators are also examining whether the child was murdered or if there are any other circumstances behind the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey