Man opened graves to steal human parts

A grave-digger allegedly involved in stealing human parts, including skull and bones, to sell them to a drug maker was arrested by police at Ponnani town in the district.

Kunjikilian (63) admitted of having opened up as many as five graves in the dead of the night to collect human parts, police said.

A skull, pieces of bone and other human parts were recovered by police in the search conducted at Kunjikkilian's house close to the graveyard.

When questioned, Kunjikkilian admitted that he used to sell the body parts to a drug making firm in Kochi which used to sell its products as 'wonder cure' for a host of ailments, they said.

Kunjikilian fell into the police net following investigations based on complaints from local people who saw the graves being dug up at Kotathara graveyard in Ponnani. People living in the area had earlier complained of 'mysterious movement' of strangers during the nights.