(Warning: Distressing content) His family believe he was abducted.

10:26, Mon, Jul 20, 2026 Updated: 10:31, Mon, Jul 20, 2026

Police Tape - Hindi

The mutilated body parts of a boy, 9, have been discovered (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The mutilated body parts of a nine-year-old boy have been discovered scattered across a forest in India. The head and hands of Nitin Yadav were found in a forest 500 metres from his home on Thursday evening, his torso was discovered some distance away, and his stomach was missing in the horror case.

Police initially suspected a wild animal attack, though the boy's family believe he was abducted and killed in the Madhya Pradesh's Satna district before being eaten by animals. Officers are investigating both angles, and the cause of death will be known after a post-mortem report.

Get the latest news from around the world and more Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

According to police, Nitin Yadav went to wash his hands and face at the handpump outside his house in Pindra village at around 5pm on Wednesday after school.

But after the boy didn't return, his family and residents searched the village and surrounding areas well into the night. They informed police after they could not find him.

On Thursday morning, a joint operation involving police, search dogs and the forest department was launched, resulting in the discovery of the boy's mutilated body on Thursday evening in the forest about 500metres from the village.

Forest department officials said that leopards are known to frequent the area, and they suspected a wild animal attack due to the condition of the body.

The forest department team had been preparing to search for paw prints on Friday morning to support the investigation, but late-night rain has hampered the search.

Chitrakoot Ranger Abhishek Mishra stated that there were no signs of a tiger's presence in the area, but leopard movement has been recorded previously.

However, Nitin's family members allege that he was abducted and murdered, and his body was thrown into the forest, before animals mutilated it.

The police have sent his body for a post-mortem to acertain the cause of death, alongside the forensic investigation.