Stoneman
Encyclopedia
The Stoneman was a name given by the popular English language print media of Kolkata
to an alleged serial killer
who menaced the streets of that city in 1989.
The Stoneman was credited with thirteen murders over six months (the first in June 1989), but it was never established whether the crimes were the handiwork of one person or a group of individuals. The Calcutta police also failed to resolve whether any of the crimes were committed as a copycat murder
. To date, no one has been sentenced for these crimes, making this one of the greatest unsolved mysteries plaguing modern metropolitan Indian police forces.
. Starting in 1985, and lasting well over two years, a series of twelve murders were committed in the Sion
and King's Circle
locality of the city. The criminal or criminals' modus operandi was simple: first he or she would find an unsuspecting victim sleeping alone in a desolate area. The victim's head was crushed with a single stone weighing as much as 30 kg. In most cases, the victims' identities could not be ascertained since they slept alone and did not have relatives or associates who could identify them. Compounded to this was the fact that the victims were people of very simple means and the individual crimes were not high-profile. It was after the sixth murder that the Mumbai police
began to see a pattern in the crimes.
A stroke of luck seemed to come the police's way when a homeless waiter survived a brutal attack and managed to escape being bludgeoned to death. However, in the dimly lit area of Sion where he was sleeping, he had not been able to get a good look at his assailant, and what seemed like a big break came to naught.
Shortly afterwards, in 1987, a ragpicker was hacked to death in the adjoining suburb of Matunga
. Even though the police and the media were quick to label this the handiwork of the same person, no evidence to link this crime with the others was ever found.
As mysteriously as the killings had started, by the middle of 1988, they stopped.
The first victim in Calcutta died from injuries to the head in June 1989. Twelve more would die in the next six months as panic gripped the city. All of the murdered were homeless pavement-dwellers who slept alone in dimly lit areas of the city.
Because the murderer killed victims by dropping a heavy stone or concrete slab, the police assumed that the assailant was probably a tall, well-built male. However, in the complete absence of any eyewitnesses or survivors, no clear-cut leads were available.
Massive deployments of police in various parts of the city at night were resorted to, and numerous arrests were made. After a spell of arrests in which a handful of "suspicious persons" were rounded up for questioning, the killings stopped. However, since there was no incriminating evidence, all those summarily arrested had to be released. One of those temporarily summoned was not mentally fit to be questioned, but the media and police were quick to note that the killings had ceased.
To date, the crimes remain unsolved.
city of Assam
state during February 2008.
based on these incidents. The film released on Feb 13, 2009, starring Kay Kay Menon
and Arbaaz Khan. It is written and directed by Manish Gupta
, the writer of the Bollywood film, Sarkar
. Gupta said that his story for the movie is 40% fact and 60% fiction.
In 2011, a Bengali film named 22 Shey Shrabon released which was directed by Srijit Mukherjee. The plot of the movie revolved around the same mysterious serial killings in Kolkata, which took place during the period of 1989. In the movie, the assassin is shown to brutally murder and the victims mostly belonged to the ignoble and the plebeian league of the society, either prostitutes, anti-socials or street dwellers. However, the climax of the movie saw the serial killer gunning himself after confessing all his atrocious acts and crudities, which in fact is a clear deviation from the actual incident.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
to an alleged serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who menaced the streets of that city in 1989.
The Stoneman was credited with thirteen murders over six months (the first in June 1989), but it was never established whether the crimes were the handiwork of one person or a group of individuals. The Calcutta police also failed to resolve whether any of the crimes were committed as a copycat murder
Copycat crimes
A copycat crime is a criminal act that is modelled or inspired by a previous crime that has been reported in the media or described in fiction.-Copycat effect:...
. To date, no one has been sentenced for these crimes, making this one of the greatest unsolved mysteries plaguing modern metropolitan Indian police forces.
Mumbai killings
The first hint of a serial-killer who was targeting homeless ragpickers and beggars in India came from MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Starting in 1985, and lasting well over two years, a series of twelve murders were committed in the Sion
Sion, India
Sion is a suburb of Mumbai. The Marathi name for Sion is शीव , which means boundary or limit. In the 17th century the village formed the boundary between Mumbai and Salsette Island.- History :...
and King's Circle
King's Circle
King's Circle is a railway station on Mumbai's Harbour Line. It is also the name of a circular park in Matunga, Mumbai, which has since been renamed Maheshwari Udyan. Like most other renamed places, locals still prefer calling it by its old name. Actually King's Circle and Matunga stations are next...
locality of the city. The criminal or criminals' modus operandi was simple: first he or she would find an unsuspecting victim sleeping alone in a desolate area. The victim's head was crushed with a single stone weighing as much as 30 kg. In most cases, the victims' identities could not be ascertained since they slept alone and did not have relatives or associates who could identify them. Compounded to this was the fact that the victims were people of very simple means and the individual crimes were not high-profile. It was after the sixth murder that the Mumbai police
Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
began to see a pattern in the crimes.
A stroke of luck seemed to come the police's way when a homeless waiter survived a brutal attack and managed to escape being bludgeoned to death. However, in the dimly lit area of Sion where he was sleeping, he had not been able to get a good look at his assailant, and what seemed like a big break came to naught.
Shortly afterwards, in 1987, a ragpicker was hacked to death in the adjoining suburb of Matunga
Matunga
Matunga is a district located in the central part of Mumbai. It is a railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. This station is called Matunga on the Central railway line, Matunga Road on the Western line and King's Circle, on the Harbour Line...
. Even though the police and the media were quick to label this the handiwork of the same person, no evidence to link this crime with the others was ever found.
As mysteriously as the killings had started, by the middle of 1988, they stopped.
Summer of 1989 in Calcutta
Whether or not the Mumbai killings were linked to the Calcutta "Stoneman" killings has never been confirmed. However, the uncanny similarity in the instrument, choice of victims, execution, and the time of the attacks, suggests someone familiar with the Mumbai episodes, if not the same killer.The first victim in Calcutta died from injuries to the head in June 1989. Twelve more would die in the next six months as panic gripped the city. All of the murdered were homeless pavement-dwellers who slept alone in dimly lit areas of the city.
Because the murderer killed victims by dropping a heavy stone or concrete slab, the police assumed that the assailant was probably a tall, well-built male. However, in the complete absence of any eyewitnesses or survivors, no clear-cut leads were available.
Massive deployments of police in various parts of the city at night were resorted to, and numerous arrests were made. After a spell of arrests in which a handful of "suspicious persons" were rounded up for questioning, the killings stopped. However, since there was no incriminating evidence, all those summarily arrested had to be released. One of those temporarily summoned was not mentally fit to be questioned, but the media and police were quick to note that the killings had ceased.
To date, the crimes remain unsolved.
Stoneman in Guwahati
Similar incidents were reported in GuwahatiGuwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
city of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
state during February 2008.
Popular culture
Producer Bobby Bedi produced a film titled The Stoneman MurdersThe Stoneman Murders
The Stoneman Murders is a 2009 Indian film based on the real life Stoneman serial killings that made headlines in the early 1980s in Mumbai. The hapless victims of the mystery killer, who was never caught, were footpath dwellers in Mumbai. They were stoned to death in their sleep...
based on these incidents. The film released on Feb 13, 2009, starring Kay Kay Menon
Kay Kay Menon
Kay Kay Menon is an Indian actor.-Early life:Menon was raised in Ambarnath and Pune, Maharashtra. His early life was in "H" type Rangehills, Khadki which were factory quarters for those working in the ammunition and high explosives factories. His father was popularly known as "Cashier Menon"...
and Arbaaz Khan. It is written and directed by Manish Gupta
Manish Gupta
Manish Gupta is an Indian writer and director in Bollywood. Gupta started his career as a scriptwriter. His first film as a writer was Sarkar, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Katrina Kaif...
, the writer of the Bollywood film, Sarkar
Sarkar (film)
Sarkar is a 2005 Indian dramatic thriller film set in the world of politics and crime, directed by Ram Gopal Varma...
. Gupta said that his story for the movie is 40% fact and 60% fiction.
In 2011, a Bengali film named 22 Shey Shrabon released which was directed by Srijit Mukherjee. The plot of the movie revolved around the same mysterious serial killings in Kolkata, which took place during the period of 1989. In the movie, the assassin is shown to brutally murder and the victims mostly belonged to the ignoble and the plebeian league of the society, either prostitutes, anti-socials or street dwellers. However, the climax of the movie saw the serial killer gunning himself after confessing all his atrocious acts and crudities, which in fact is a clear deviation from the actual incident.