Odisha: 2 held for allegedly consuming half-burnt dead body during cremation

According to the police, a complaint was filed against Sundar Mohan Singh (58) and Narendra Singh (25) of Dantuni village by locals after they were allegedly spotted consuming a half-charred body at the cremation site

Updated on: Jul 12, 2023, 20:11:55 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Two men accused of cannibalism were arrested on Tuesday after locals found them eating half-burnt human flesh from the body of the deceased while they were performing a funeral in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, police said.

According to the police, a complaint was filed against Sundar Mohan Singh (58) and Narendra Singh (25) of Dantuni village by locals after they were allegedly spotted consuming a half-charred body at the cremation site.

“The villagers had taken the body of the deceased who died of illness to the crematorium for the funeral. While the cremation was underway, the duo took away some portion of the half-burnt body and started eating it,” said a police officer who did not wish to be named.

“They committed the act in an inebriated state. Sundar Mohan Singh, one of the accused, is a sorcerer. He did so under the influence of liquor and confessed to his actions,” said Sabjay Parida, inspector-in-charge of Badasahi police station.

The two have been charged under section 297 of the Indian Penal Code, he said.

Raju Nayak, a local, said he was horrified seeing the men eating human flesh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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