MEERUT, May 28 -- In a shocking case of alleged police negligence, a 38-year-old man reported missing by his family was cremated as an unidentified body by the police, leaving his relatives devastated and demanding accountability.

Sunil, a confectioner from Shahjahanpur, went missing on May 19 after leaving home to work as a daily wage labourer. His family promptly lodged a missing person's complaint with the Kithore police station and submitted his photograph. Despite repeated visits, no FIR was registered, and no action was taken.

On Monday, the family discovered that Sunil had died and his body had already been cremated by the Mundali police, who had recovered it from the Maukhas outpost area and treated it as unclaimed. The family l...