A man’s skeleton was found in a dried-up pond in North Dinajpur district on Friday morning.

Police have recovered the skeleton and are planning to conduct DNA tests to identify the victim.

Family members of a private security guard who has been missing since October last year suspect the skeleton might be of him.

Sources said residents of Tindhipi, a locality under the jurisdiction of Kaliaganj police station, had spotted the skeleton on Friday morning. It was found in a pond when it dried up.

Moktar Ali, a resident of Palihar, an adjoining locality, said it might be his brother’s skeleton.

“My brother Mohsin Ali, 40, went missing on October 1 last year and is yet to be traced. When I got to know about the skeleton, I reached the police station and saw it. The skeleton has a waist belt, which seems to be that of my brother. We want the police to conduct a DNA test to find out whether our apprehension is true,” said Moktar.

He said Mohsin used to work as a private security guard. “Although we didn’t know whether he had enmity with anyone, he was not having a good relationship with his wife. We suspect he was murdered and dumped in the pond,” the brother said.

Later in the day, Nurjahan Khatun, Mohsin’s wife, also reached the police station. Her husband has been missing for five months, she said.

“I also suspect that it might be my husband’s skeleton. It seems he was murdered. I want the police to find out the truth,” said Khatun.