Raichur (Karnataka), Oct 26 Three men were arrested for allegedly exhuming and stealing buried human skeletal remains from a cemetery here to supply the bones to a private medical institution for academic purposes, police said on Monday.
The accused were identified as Veeresh, a cemetery worker, Raju and Afsar, both employees at the medical institute in Raichur town, they said.
The incident came to light days ago when two local residents allegedly spotted a duo digging up a skeleton at the graveyard and placing the bones in a plastic cover, police said.
According to police, when the locals attempted to approached them, the suspects allegedly fled the spot but they managed to recognise the cemetery worker whom they confronted the next day during which he confessed to his offence.
During investigation, Veeresh allegedly admitted to digging up and selling skeletal remains for the use of medical students. He was allegedly given Rs 3,000 for the skeletal remains of each body and provided with an advance payment of Rs 700, a senior police officer said.
Veeresh told investigators that the activity had been going on for a few months. Being a cemetery worker, he knew where bodies had been buried and targeted those that had been buried for at least six months, he said.
He allegedly sold the skeletal remains to earn money for liquor and other personal expenses, the officer said.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the incident, and all three accused were arrested on Sunday, police said.
Further investigation is underway to unearth the extent of this racket and whether any other staff members of the medical institution or other colleges were also involved, they added.
(PTI News)
