Kozhikode: The investigation team probing the disappearance of Vigil Velathipadikkal has recovered skeletal remains, suspected to be his, during the second stretch of evidence collection on Friday. Among the remains found were teeth, rib bones and parts of the chin.

Police also recovered stones believed to have been used to weigh down his body, based on statements by the accused. The samples will be sent for DNA testing for confirmation. The search is being carried out in the presence of the accused, who are in police custody till Friday, the last day of their remand.

Vigil, a native of Chungam, West Hill, went missing on March 17, 2019. The Elathur police recently reopened the case and found the involvement of his close friends Nikhil and Deepesh.

The accused told investigators that Vigil died after being injected with a drug overdose by the first accused, Nikhil. They allegedly drowned him in a waterlogged area and later claimed to have taken the skeleton and washed it off in the sea as part of rituals for the deceased.

This is the second round of searches in Sarovaram, conducted with the accused present. The fresh search began on Tuesday after police secured their custody for a second time on Monday.

Since the area had seven feet of water, police used pumps to drain it before resuming the search. The operation is being supervised by Town Sub Division Assistant Commissioner Ashraf and Elathur Station Inspector K R Renjith.