CHAMOLI: In a deeply distressing incident that has shocked residents of the Dewal region in Chamoli district, after a severed child’s head was found on the Dewal Veradhar motor road early Friday morning. The discovery has triggered a massive police investigation, with teams now searching for the missing body and attempting to identify the victim.
According to officials, the head was first spotted by passers-by near the zero-kilometre point on the Haatlyani–Veradhar route. Horrified villagers immediately informed the local gram pradhan, who then alerted the Dewal police outpost. A police team reached the location without delay, sealed the area and recovered the head for forensic examination.
Police Station In-Charge Vinod Chaurasia confirmed the details, stating that the head appeared to belong to a small child, though the age and cause of death will only be determined after a post-mortem. The remains have been sent to Karnaprayag for examination. He further said that the rest of the body has not been found, prompting an urgent and extensive search operation.
Authorities have intensified patrolling in surrounding hamlets, forested stretches and isolated locations along the motor route. Teams are combing the terrain in the hope of finding additional clues. As of Friday evening, the identity of the child remained unknown, with no missing-person complaint matching the case yet reported in the region.
The gruesome discovery has caused panic and fear among the local population. Residents say they are stunned that such a brutal act could occur in their area. Many parents expressed anxiety, demanding swift action and stronger police presence. Villagers have also urged officials to ensure rapid progress in the investigation, calling the crime “unimaginably cruel.”
Forensic experts are expected to assist police in examining the location for tyre marks, footprints or any other signs that could indicate how the remains reached the roadside. Investigators are also exploring the possibility that the incident occurred elsewhere and the head was later discarded at the site.
Nearby abandoned houses and isolated structures have been inspected, and village councils across the region have been instructed to report any recent suspicious activity. Police have also contacted health centres and clinics in surrounding areas to check for any reports of missing infants or toddlers.
District authorities said they are treating the case with top priority, given the sensitivity and the horrific nature of the crime. Senior officers are supervising the operation, and additional forces have been deployed to assist with the search.
Meanwhile, local leaders and panchayat representatives have appealed for calm while urging residents to cooperate fully with the investigators. They have also requested the administration to ensure enhanced security measures, especially in remote settlements and forest-fringe villages.
As the investigation continues, the region remains on high alert, with residents hoping for swift answers and justice for the unidentified child.
Dheeraj reports on governance, public services, jobs, and regional developments across Uttarakhand. He specialises in recruitment news, public-sector updates, and civic issues that impact everyday citizens. His reporting brings accuracy, context, and a grassroots perspective to local journalism.
