Missing RPF jawan found dead in Munger pond, kin allege murder

Patna: The body of RPF jawan Dharmendra Kumar (48), who had been missing since May 25 while on duty, was recovered from a pond in Munger district on Thursday. His family alleged that Kumar was murdered and his body was thrown in the pond. Kumar was a resident of Mahmada village under Ramnagar police station in Munger, police said.According to Railway Protection Force (RPF), Kumar was posted at Lailakh Mamlakha station on the Bhagalpur–Sahebganj rail section under the Malda division. The body was found naked, and his uniform, cellphone and a gold ring were missing, allegedly to prevent identification. It was sent it to a Bhagalpur hospital for post-mortem.His wife, Rani Devi, said she last spoke to him around 8pm on May 25 via video call. “He said he was going on duty and mentioned he had been deployed alone at the station. He asked me to eat and sleep before ending the call,” she said.When she tried calling him the next morning, his phone was switched off. After repeated failed attempts, the family contacted a relative working with the railways at Malda station, who alerted RPF personnel at the Kahalgaon post. Senior officials were subsequently informed.The family, along with villagers, also reached Lailakh Mamlakha station and began a search with the help of RPF personnel. On Thursday around 5.30pm, the body was found floating in a pond about 3.5km from the station, near the railway tracks. The family identified him through a silver ring.Family members claimed there were multiple injury marks on Kumar’s body and alleged he was beaten to death after being abducted. They also accused the RPF of negligence, saying no timely information or support was provided during the search. The family warned of a ‘rail chakka jam’ if the case is not solved and the accused are not arrested within a week.RPF Commandant Hira Prasad Singh said, “An FIR has been registered against unknown persons, and the case is being investigated from the murder angle.”