New Delhi

A 24-year-old man was arrested from India’s western Rajasthan state for allegedly killing an elderly woman and then consuming her flesh.

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It is said that the man—Surendra Thakur, a resident of Mumbai city in Maharashtra—was suffering from “hydrophobia” — a fear of water caused by late-stage rabies infection—causing him to act irrationally. The doctors said that he was bitten by a ‘rabid’ dog in the past and did not get the treatment on time.

Police, quoting eyewitnesses, said that the incident took place in Saradhana village under Pali district on Friday.

The deceased, Shanti Devi (65), had gone to graze her cattle when the accused suddenly ambushed her and stoned her to death.

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“The accused is behaving like a mentally sick patient and in an aggressive manner. We have admitted him to the hospital where his medical examination is going on. Even in the hospital, he created a ruckus, after which he was tied up on a bed by the nursing staff,” Jaitaran Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukhram Bishnoi told PTI news agency.

According to police, Thakur had a bus ticket with him, which later confirmed his place of residence to be Mumbai city. It is not known why he came to Saradhana village. 

The victim’s son, Biren Kathat, lodged a police complaint accusing the 24-year-old of killing his mother and eating her flesh.

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Accused charged with cannibalism

Thakur has been booked under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and also charged with cannibalism.

“I was returning after grazing goats when I saw the man who was eating the flesh of the deceased woman. I got scared and ran from the spot,” Kathat was quoted as saying, adding that he also saw the blood-stained face of the accused.

The locals initially got scared after seeing Thakur's blood-stained face, but chased him when he tried to escape. Eventually, the residents were able to catch him and handed him over to the police.

“A patient who is suffering from hydrophobia has been admitted to Bangar Hospital. It is possible that a rabid dog might have bitten him in the past. He might not have got vaccinated and because of this, he developed rabies and hydrophobia,” Dr Praveen said.

The police handed over the body of the woman to the family members after the autopsy. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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