Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Rag Picker Caught Taking Knee Implants From Cremation Ashes
Villagers saw a man searching through ashes at a cremation ground in Punjab.
They chased him and found artificial knee implants with him.
The implants had belonged to a man who had undergone knee replacement surgery.
His family said the implants remained after his cremation.
The police called the man a rag picker and said he may have been looking for coins or money.
The family has not filed a written complaint.
Because of this, police have not registered a criminal case.
The family plans to immerse the implants with the man’s ashes at Kiratpur Sahib.
Villagers in Bhai Bakhtaur, Bathinda, caught a rag picker allegedly removing artificial knee implants from cremation ashes.
The implants belonged to a recently cremated man identified by his family as Saudagar Singh.
Police said the man may have been searching the ashes for money or coins, but no complaint has been filed.
The family considers the implants part of the deceased’s remains and plans to immerse them with his ashes at Kiratpur Sahib.
Reports differed on the deceased’s first name, with some identifying him as Ujagar Singh and others as Saudagar Singh.
- Who
- A rag picker was caught by villagers; the implants belonged to a deceased man identified by his family as Saudagar Singh.
- What
- The man was allegedly caught removing artificial knee implants from cremation ashes.
- When
- The incident was reported on Monday, days after the man’s cremation.
- Where
- At a cremation ground in Bhai Bakhtaur village, Bathinda district, Punjab.
- Why
- Police said he may have been searching the ashes for money or coins; the family said the implants were part of the deceased’s remains.
Family and Villagers
Police Account
Meaning of the implants
Family and Villagers
The family regards the artificial knees as part of Saudagar Singh’s remains and wants to immerse them with his ashes.
Police Account
Police focused on establishing what happened and said the implants were recovered and returned to the family.
Possible motive
Family and Villagers
Villagers viewed the removal of the implants as disturbing and appealed for greater watch over cremation grounds.
Police Account
The station house officer said the rag picker apparently may have been searching the ashes for money or coins, and police did not support speculation that he was drug-addicted.
Legal action
Family and Villagers
The family has not filed a complaint and has chosen to handle the remains itself.
Police Account
Police said further action would depend on a complaint and the facts that emerge; no case has been registered.
- Location
- Bhai Bakhtaur village, Bathinda district, Punjab
- Deceased
- Saudagar Singh, according to the family account
- Recovered item
- Artificial knee implants
- Suspect
- A rag picker caught near the cremation ground
- Police status
- No written complaint or criminal case has been registered
- Family plan
- To immerse the implants with the ashes at Kiratpur Sahib
- Reported discrepancy
- Some reports identified the deceased as Ujagar Singh rather than Saudagar Singh