MORADABAD: In a horrific incident , a 25-year-old man has been arrested for cannibalism after villagers found him stealing body parts from pyres at a local cremation ground and eating them later.

Thakurdwara circle officer SN Singh told TOI, “Residents of Surajnagar villager informed us that the suspect, identified as Akhilesh from Sultanpur district, was involved in cannibalism. According to them, he was found eating human flesh from bodies at the local shamshan ghat. His family has been informed.”

Singh said the man seems to be mentally ill and any action against him would be taken after a medical examination. The CO said his belongings will be sent for forensic tests.

DK Bharti, a local who informed the police, said, “Villagers had come here for the cremation of a body when they noticed this man getting too close to a burning pyre. When they chased him, he ran away and hid himself under a bedsheet inside a room at shamshan ghat.” Bharti added when locals removed the bedsheet, there were human organs and flesh hidden under it.

A few villagers said they had spotted this man around the cremation ground for the past 15 days.

According to cops, Akhilesh left his parents’ house in Sultanpur five years ago. His whereabouts have not been known since then. Police said his family will soon be reaching Moradabad to identify him.

