Cops suspect cannibalism in Assam tea grower's murder

An Assam tea estate's labourers who killed their employer and his wife last week ate the victims' flesh after the crime, the police said on Monday.

Inspector General of Police (law and order) SN Singh said the statements of two witnesses of the December 26 incident mentioned facts hinting towards cannibalism.

The killings occurred at the MKB Tea Estate in Tinsukia district, about 500 km from Assam's main city Guwahati. One person has been arrested.

The labourers, numbering over 1,000, marched up to the bungalow of the tea estate owner Mridul Bhattacharya and his wife Rita and set it on fire in protest against the arrest of two employees by the police and non-payment of salaries, the police said.

“We have recorded the statements of two witnesses and both mentioned that some of the labourers, who had attacked the bungalow of the Bhattacharyas, had eaten their flesh after the crime,” said Singh.

The police said that they had so far identified 14 accused, mainly labourers of the tea estate and some neighbouring tea gardens, for their involvement in the crime.