Harippad: A human skull surfaced from a heap of soil unloaded in the front yard of a house, shocking residents of the Vettuveni area near here. 

The soil had been brought in to level the compound of the house owned by C Biju of Beena Nivas, to prevent waterlogging. But days of relentless rain left the soil untouched and uneven. On the evening of November 10, as rainwater streamed down the mound, a skull slowly emerged from the pile.

Biju immediately alerted the police, following which a team reached the spot and conducted a preliminary inspection. Forensic experts later arrived and took the skull for detailed examination.

A police investigation soon confirmed that the soil had been sourced from the Pandalam area. A police inquiry at the site confirmed that it was taken from land where members of a family had been buried. The family told the police that one person had been interred there 15 years ago.

Police are also collecting information on people reported missing from the Pandalam region as part of the investigation. Officials said the exact origin and identity of the skull will be known only after forensic tests are completed.