Woman’s body found inside blue drum in Patiala, identified through tattoos

A woman’s body was recovered from inside a blue drum in Punjab’s Patiala on Wednesday, prompting police to launch an investigation into a suspected murder case. The body was found near the DCW overbridge after police received information about a drum containing human remains. Officials later identified the deceased woman through tattoos found on her body.

Station House Officer Gurpreet Singh said police teams immediately reached the location after receiving the alert and called forensic experts to conduct an on-the-spot examination. Following preliminary investigation at the scene, the body was shifted to the mortuary for identification and further legal procedures.

Police said two tattoos discovered on the woman’s body helped establish her identity. According to officials, the deceased was identified as Neha, aged above 20, and the daughter of Sant Lal. Investigators said the family originally belonged to Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh but had been residing in Patiala.

The victim’s family was later contacted by the police. During questioning, family members informed investigators that Neha had been missing for the past few days and that a missing person complaint had already been filed before the body was recovered. Police have not yet disclosed details regarding suspects or the possible motive behind the killing.

The case has drawn attention amid several recent incidents involving bodies being concealed inside blue drums in different parts of the country. Earlier this month, a woman in Thane was arrested for allegedly killing her lover with the help of her brother and disposing of the body inside a blue drum. Similar cases were also reported in Lucknow and Meerut, where victims’ bodies were allegedly dismembered and hidden in drums following murders.