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Assam Polling Officer Found Dead in Remote Forest 10 Days After Disappearance

The death is fueling scrutiny of how India safeguards polling staff in difficult terrain.

Overview

  • The body, recovered Sunday after wood collectors raised an alert, was identified as 49-year-old teacher Cornelius Kindo in a dense hill forest near Rongwong in Karbi Anglong.
  • Kindo had gone missing on April 9 during Assembly polling after leaving his station saying he felt unwell, prompting multi-day searches with police teams and drones.
  • Police said early findings point to neurological trouble and no visible signs of kidnapping, with the cause to be set by a post-mortem.
  • Relatives and local leaders allege he suffered seizures on duty and received no timely medical care, and they are demanding a CBI investigation.
  • The case has renewed concern over sending poll workers to remote sites with limited access to clinics and could spur stricter on-site medical plans and clearer accountability for district election managers.