Man kills cousin, burns body pieces in furnace

Sagar, MP, May 4 (UNI) In an ugly reminder of the gory tandoor case, a man killed his 50-year-old cousin, chopped up the body and burnt the pieces in a furnace at his residence in this district headquarters to get rid of evidence.

Police said today Munna Sahu (50) suspected his paternal uncle's son Shankar Sahu of illicit relations with his wife and murdered him on May 1 when the victim was alone at home and his wife and children were away. Shankar's home was near Munna's rented residence.

The crime came to light last evening when neighbours could no longer withstand the stench. Police was called up, though the remains could not be identified immediately, Munna broke down and confessed late at night.

After killing Shankar, the accused had brought the body home in pieces in a sack along with an iron tank. Munna -- who made incense sticks -- placed an iron net on the furnace, put the pieces in the tank, overturned it on the net and set the furnace alight. When neighbours complained of the stench, the accused blamed a dead rat.

''The accused is under going interrogation. He has lost his mental balance and keeps talking of death,'' said City Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Kaushal. Munna lived alone as his family resided in a nearby village.

UNI XC-AC GT DB2007