The partially mutilated body of Shekhar Panchal, 23, student of Pacific College Udaipur who was abducted on 31^st December 2011 by unknown people was found in a sack floating at Chambal River, Punadi, Kota today morning.

Prima facie, Kota Police has confirmed that the body is 8-10 days old and of a young man, although it was partially burnt and difficult to recognize, the police asked Rakesh Panchal, Shekhar’s father to identify the body but he could not identify the corpse.

According to the sources, the body was later sent for DNA test and by evening it was confirmed that it is of Shekhar Panchal who was strangulated to death by his kidnappers and then burnt before throwing the body in the Chambal River.

Shekhar Panchal mysteriously went missing since the evening of 31^st December from his house at Udaipur and his kidnapping was confirmed only when his mother received a call from Shekhar’s mobile phone on 4^th January 2012 by an abductor who demanded Rs.1 crore and 5kg gold.

During the investigation and search operation led by both Udaipur and Kota Police, Pradeep Singh Bhati’s name came up as a prime suspect and key accuse of the crime. Pradeep Singh is still at-large; however, police have detained several of Bhati’s relatives and friends and raided his possible hide outs in Kota, Sawai Madhopur etc.

A blood stained car was also recovered from Bhati’s house at Kota which confirmed the crime been done by Bhati and his associates.

Till the writing of this news, UT could not reach any Police Officer to confirm this news, the information in this news is gathered from several local media sources including print and electronic media.