Jasrapur village in Khetri, Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan) is reeling under shock and grief after the body of a 20-year-old youth, Pankaj Kumawat, was discovered in a deep well. The young man had mysteriously disappeared after receiving a phone call on the evening of September 14. His death has triggered anger, sorrow, and a demand for justice from both his family and the local community.
The Final Call and Pankaj’s Disappearance
The horrifying truth On the evening of September 14, around 7 PM, Pankaj received a phone call. The caller asked him to come out for some work. He left home soon after. Within an hour, his phone went unreachable. His family repeatedly tried to call him, but his phone was switched off.
Initially, they assumed he might be staying at a relative’s place or that his phone battery had died. But when Pankaj did not return even by 4 AM the next morning, his family grew anxious. They started reaching out to relatives and friends, checked nearby CCTV footage, and searched the area—but found no trace of him.
Shocking Clues Emerge During Search
The desperate search extended to nearby fields and lanes. Close to their house was an old well, surrounded by crops. Around 100–150 meters from this well, the family discovered the first disturbing clue: the battery cover of Pankaj’s mobile phone, stained with blood.
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Soon, more chilling evidence turned up:
- Blood spots on the ground
- The mobile phone battery
- Pankaj’s mobile phone, lying further away
- One slipper found near the well
- Another slipper lying on the roof of a small nearby shed
The scattered belongings and bloodstains indicated that Pankaj had been attacked.
The Well Becomes a Crime Scene
The trail of evidence led the family to the old, abandoned well—about 200 feet deep. Around the well, they spotted cigarette butts and blade marks on the ground, signs of a struggle. When they shone a flashlight inside, their worst fears were confirmed: Pankaj’s body lay at the bottom of the well.
The isolated location, far from any houses, suggested that multiple people were involved. The family strongly suspects four to five individuals carried out the crime and used a vehicle to bring Pankaj to the spot after luring him away from home.
Anger Over Police Inaction and Local Protest
Even before the body was found, Pankaj’s family had filed a missing person’s complaint at the Khetri Copper police station on September 15. However, they alleged that the police were dismissive and told them no action would be taken for 24 hours.
Frustrated by this negligence, villagers organized a mass protest (dharna) in Khetri, demanding immediate action. The protest forced police officials to respond. They assured the family that the case would be solved within 72 hours.
Investigation, Arrest, and Unanswered Questions
Police soon arrested one suspect from the same village and recovered the suspected murder weapon. The arrested man reportedly lived only 500 meters from Pankaj’s home. It was also revealed that the phone used to lure Pankaj belonged to someone else, but was used by the accused to make the call.
Despite the arrest, the family insists that at least four to five people were involved and that this was a pre-planned murder. They claim Pankaj had no disputes or enmity with anyone, apart from a minor DJ-related argument six to seven months ago, which had been peacefully resolved.
A Family Shattered
Pankaj was the eldest of four siblings, with two younger brothers and a sister. His father, suffering from a respiratory illness, is unable to work. Pankaj worked hard as a daily wage laborer alongside his brothers to support the family.
His sudden death has left the family devastated—both emotionally and financially. Villagers have been rallying around them, offering support and demanding justice.
Authorities have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), including the DSP and cyber cell, to probe the case. A post-mortem and forensic tests on the blood samples collected from the scene are underway to strengthen the investigation.
