A horrifying murder mystery has unfolded in Rajasthan’s Khairthal-Tijara district, where the decomposed body of a man was discovered stuffed inside a sealed drum on the rooftop of his rented home. What makes the case even more chilling is that the man’s wife, three children, and the landlord’s son have been missing since the incident came to light.

Grisly Discovery in Adarsh Colony

The gruesome incident came to attention after residents of Adarsh Colony in Kishangarhbas noticed a strong foul smell emanating from a rooftop. Alarmed by the stench, the neighbours informed the police. On inspection, officers found a large blue plastic drum, sealed shut and covered with a heavy stone, apparently placed there to suppress the odour.

When the drum was finally opened, police were met with a horrifying sight — the body of a young man, bearing a deep throat injury caused by a sharp weapon, lay stuffed inside. To their shock, salt had been sprinkled over the body, an apparent attempt to hasten decomposition and possibly erase evidence of the crime.

Victim Identified as a Native of Uttar Pradesh

Police have identified the deceased as Hansraj alias Suraj, a resident of Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Hansraj had been living in Rajasthan for the past one-and-a-half months in a rented rooftop room along with his wife Sunita and their three children — eldest son Harshal, daughter Nandini, and youngest son Golu.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajendra Singh Nirwan, Hansraj worked at a nearby brick kiln to support his family. However, since Saturday evening, both his family members and the landlord’s son Jitendra have been missing.

The DSP revealed that Hansraj was addicted to alcohol and frequently drank with Jitendra. “Since Saturday evening, both Jitendra and Hansraj’s family have been untraceable,” he said, hinting at possible connections between the missing persons and the suspected murder.

Police Investigation: Salt Sprinkled to Speed Up Decomposition

As soon as the foul odour was reported, Kishangarhbas police rushed to the spot, accompanied by DSP Nirwan, Station In-charge Jitendra Singh Shekhawat, ASI Gyan Chand, and forensic teams. The body was carefully removed from the drum and sent for post-mortem examination.

“The victim had a sharp weapon injury on his throat. Salt was sprinkled over the body to accelerate decomposition, which strongly suggests an attempt to destroy evidence,” DSP Nirwan confirmed.

Police have registered a case and launched a massive search operation to trace Sunita, her three children, and Jitendra. Forensic experts are also collecting vital evidence from the scene to reconstruct the crime.

Possible Parallels With Meerut Drum Murder Case

This shocking discovery has drawn disturbing parallels with the Meerut drum murder case of March 2025. In that incident, a merchant navy officer, Saurabh Rajput, was brutally killed by his wife and her lover. His dismembered body was concealed inside a blue drum filled with wet cement.

The crime was exposed in a spine-chilling manner when the couple’s young daughter repeatedly told neighbours, “Papa drum mein hain” (Papa is in the drum).

The eerie similarity between the Rajasthan and Meerut cases has raised fresh questions about motive, planning, and whether the accused in the latest case may have been inspired by the earlier crime.

Another Similar Case in Ludhiana

Shockingly, this is not the only such case reported this year. In June, another decomposed body was found stuffed inside a blue drum in Ludhiana’s Sherpur area. In that case, the victim’s limbs were tied with rope, wrapped in a bedsheet, and stuffed inside a plastic gunny bag before being hidden in the drum. Ragpickers discovered the container abandoned in a vacant plot, after which police were alerted.

The recurring pattern of murders involving blue drums across different states has left investigators puzzled and communities shaken.

Current Status of the Rajasthan Case

At present, police have not confirmed how long Hansraj’s body had been inside the drum or the exact motive behind his suspected murder. Investigators are treating the case as a homicide, and multiple teams have been deployed to trace the missing family members and the landlord’s son.

“The circumstances clearly indicate foul play. We are exploring all angles, including financial disputes, personal enmity, or possible domestic conflicts. The missing persons are being treated as key to solving the mystery,” said a senior investigating officer.

Meanwhile, forensic science laboratory (FSL) teams are working on gathering DNA samples, fingerprints, and other critical evidence to build the case.

Community in Shock

The residents of Adarsh Colony remain in shock and fear following the discovery. Many expressed disbelief that such a brutal crime could occur in their peaceful neighbourhood. The elderly landlady, who first noticed the foul smell, is said to be deeply shaken by the discovery on her property.

The case has quickly gained widespread attention due to its horrifying details and the disturbing parallels it shares with previous drum-related murders.

The mysterious murder of Hansraj, whose body was found decomposing inside a drum in Rajasthan’s Khairthal-Tijara district, has left behind more questions than answers. With his wife, children, and the landlord’s son missing, police are racing against time to unravel the chilling truth.

As parallels with the Meerut drum murder case and the Ludhiana discovery resurface, investigators are under pressure to solve this gruesome crime and bring those responsible to justice. Until then, the Rajasthan drum murder mystery continues to send shivers across the region.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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