A man was arrested after the body of a newly-born baby and other human remains were found at his house in this Haryana district, police said on Sunday.
The accused was identified as Pala Ram (40), said to be a drug addict and mentally unstable, who stayed alone in his house at Kolotha village. He was arrested late Saturday after his estranged wife, Chhinder Kaur, found the body of a two-day old boy in the house when she came to get some documents.
Chhinder, who now stays with her parents at neighbouring Brahminwala village, had come to get her ration card. While searching for it, she found the body, wrapped in a cloth, and was hidden under the quilts. She immediately ran into the neighbour's house and informed them, and they in turn, reported to the matter to the police.
The house was searched and several human bones were also found on the premises.
"Pala Ram used to bring bodies of the infants after digging them up from the burial grounds. He is mentally unstable. Police have arrested him and he has been booked under Section 297 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) for trespassing of burial places," district police chief Vivek Sharma said.
Some villagers also accused Pala Ram of eating human flesh and cooking the infants' bodies at his house. However, police denied it.
"So far we have not received any evidence regarding eating or cooking the human flesh. Our investigation is on and we are taking the help of forensic experts in this case. However, village panchayat is supporting Pala Ram and is claiming that he is innocent," said Sharma.
Police sources said that Pala Ram rarely spoke to anyone in the village, and did nothing. He would eat any food someone gave him. Few months back, he was admitted in some hospital for treatment of his mental condition.