Bhagalpur: Police in Bhagalpur have arrested two men accused of stealing human skulls from a graveyard in Sakrama village, allegedly for use in black magic and illegal trade. The accused, Mohammad Imdad Alam (34) and Mohammad Azad (38), both residents of Banka district, were taken into custody late on Tuesday night, Bhagalpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hriday Kant confirmed.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted to stealing human skulls and bones, selling them to laboratories in other states, and using them in occult practices, police said. A human skull was recovered from their possession, and authorities are now investigating the laboratories involved in the alleged smuggling network.
Years of Disturbing Grave Robberies
The arrests follow growing concerns among villagers, who reported that human skulls had been vanishing from the graveyard for the past five years. Suspicions had been raised about a gang involved in the illegal trade of human remains.
Last Monday, villagers reported another theft from the Sakrama village cemetery in the Sanhaula police station area. Days earlier, the body of a newborn had gone missing from its grave, with bloodstains found on the grass and only a few remains left behind. Police officials, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), visited the site and launched an investigation.
Further inquiries uncovered an even more gruesome pattern. On January 20, the head of a recently buried woman was stolen from a grave in Ashraf Nagar, also in the Sanhaula area. The woman, identified as the mother of Mohammed Badrujamma, had been buried five and a half months ago. Reports suggest that beheadings of buried bodies in the region began in 2021, with skulls being removed six months after burial under the cover of darkness.
200-Year-Old Cemetery Targeted
The historic cemetery, over 200 years old, serves multiple villages, including Ashraf Nagar and Sakrama. According to Babatit Sheikh, a member of the local mosque committee, 20 bodies have been buried in the last five years, with one or two burials taking place every five months.
Villagers said the cemetery was once enclosed by a protective wall, which was later demolished by anti-social elements. Located about one kilometre from the village, the area remains isolated at night, making it vulnerable to such crimes.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by SDPO Shivanand Singh, was formed to probe the case. Using technical surveillance and human intelligence, officers identified and arrested the two suspects. Further investigations are underway to trace buyers and uncover the full extent of the racket.
