A call from prison shattered a funeral: a shocking story from India

Ravi Kumar, a resident of an Indian village, disappeared in early August. His family identified an unknown man's body by his clothing and cremated it. Three weeks later, it turned out Ravi was alive and in jail for a minor offense. Police are trying to identify the cremated person.

In the Indian state of Punjab, a story worthy of a thriller script unfolded. Local resident Ravi Kumar disappeared on August 5. Relatives filed a police report. On August 11, a body with a disfigured face was found in a swampy area. The family identified it by the clothing and conducted a cremation on August 13, convinced they were burying Ravi. On September 2, a call from Kapurtala Central Prison informed relatives that Ravi was alive and in custody. It turned out he had been arrested for a minor offense on the day of his disappearance, and no one had posted bail. Ravi's brother, Amandeep, said the family experienced shock and relief. Police are now trying to identify the cremated person—DNA testing is impossible due to the effects of the funeral pyre. Investigators are checking missing persons reports and cell tower data.