The search for the skeletal remains of four-year-old Tillu, also known as Prince, who disappeared six years ago in Rajasthan’s Dausa district, is ongoing for the third consecutive day. The excavation, initiated after the accused provided information on the possible burial site, is currently taking place on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, leading to the closure of three out of five traffic lanes. Authorities have intensified the operation following recent leads in the murder investigation.
Excavation work, which began on Sunday, involves digging along an approximately 80-meter stretch, four meters wide, and nearly 12 feet deep, using heavy machinery like JCB excavators. Despite extensive excavation on Monday, no skeletal remains were found, prompting officials to continue the search on Tuesday. The excavator deployed at the site costs around Rs 10,500 per hour and consumes about 20 liters of diesel per hour.
The operation includes the use of advanced technology such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to identify sensitive locations for excavation. A Swedish-made GPR machine, scanning the area for nearly five hours, examined the ground up to a depth of six meters, searching for any underground anomalies. Senior officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Yogendra Faujdar and Station House Officer Zaheer Abbas, are overseeing the operation at the site.
Authorities have marked two to three highly sensitive zones based on the accused’s earlier indication near a peepal tree. The excavation process, conducted scientifically, will continue until all identified points are thoroughly examined. Due to the ongoing search, traffic movement on three lanes of the expressway has been halted, with barricades and safety measures in place.
Family members and local residents are anxiously waiting at the site for closure in the case that dates back six years. The young boy, Prince, was murdered on August 16, 2020, by his neighbor and sister, who confessed to the crime during police interrogation. Despite continuous efforts by the authorities, the child’s remains are yet to be found, adding to the distress of the family as the search progresses.
