KOLKATA: A chilling incident has come to light in Thoraikhana village, Dinhata, West Bengal, where a man has been arrested for murder with alleged cannibalistic intent. Firdaus Alam, the accused, was taken into custody by local police following the killing of an elderly destitute man who had been living near a cremation ground for almost a year.
According to authorities, the crime took place on January 10, when a local fair kept most villagers away. In an intoxicated state, Alam allegedly attacked the elderly man repeatedly on the neck and throat with a sharp-edged weapon, killing him instantly. He then reportedly moved the body to a nearby tubewell to wash off the blood and hid it by a pond, seemingly intending to consume the flesh.
The body was discovered by villagers before Alam could act on his cannibalistic plans, sparking panic in the area. Dinhata SDPO Dhiman Mitra, Sahebganj Police Station in-charge Ajit Shah, and Nayarhat outpost in-charge Himadri Ghosh promptly arrived at the scene with police personnel. The body was recovered, and a post-mortem examination confirmed deep cuts on the back of the neck and throat.
Firdaus Alam, who has no prior criminal record, has been reported as a drug addict and had previously undergone multiple rounds of rehabilitation at de-addiction centers. Police stated that they are “stunned by this rare incident of cannibalism” and are continuing interrogation to determine the full motive and circumstances behind the crime. Investigation into the case is ongoing.
