A human skull was found amid a heap of waste on a narrow lane near the Kozhikode railway station on Sunday (September 20), prompting the Town police to launch an investigation.

The skull was found along the lane leading from Platform No. 4 of the station towards the Valayannagadi area. A passenger who noticed it while passing through the lane in the morning alerted the police.

The spot is on an unoccupied plot owned by private individuals and is reportedly used for dumping waste. The police suspect that the skull could have been displaced from the waste heap and ended up by the roadside.

A team from the Town police and the dog squad inspected the area. A search was also conducted with the assistance of sanitation workers of the Kozhikode Corporation to determine whether other human remains were present. However, police sources said none were found.

The skull is believed to be that of a person who died one to two years ago, according to preliminary assessment. The police said forensic and DNA examinations would be conducted to establish the identity of the deceased and determine whether the remains belonged to a man or a woman. A case was also registered.