Chhapra Government Railway Police (GRP) on Wednesday arrested Amar Kumar alias Dom from Vadilpur village under Haldi police station in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the human skulls and thigh bones recovery case at Chhapra railway station.

The GRP at Chhapra railway station on Tuesday had arrested Sanjay Prasad, 29, and had recovered 50 human bones from his possession. There were 16 human skulls and 34 thigh bones.

The police said a six-member GRP team comprising deputy superintendent of police, rail, Sonepur, and Chhapra GRP station house officer is in Uttar Pradesh to conduct raids.

DSP, rail, Sonepur, Mohammad Tanveer Ahmad, said on Wednesday that acting on the revelations made by Sanjay Prasad, a Chhapra GRP team visited Badilpur village under Haldi police station in Balia district and arrested Amar Kumar, 35.

He said during the preliminary interrogation, the arrested youth told the police that he used to collect bodies flowing in rivers and other places and then supply the human bones to his clients. Amar’s statements will be verified further during investigation, he said, adding that he would be sent to jail.

Quoting Amar, Chhapra GRP SHO Suman Prasad Singh said Amar works as a dom (undertaker) in his village and in the adjoining areas and collects bodies that have been thrown in rivers or half-burnt bodies left at the cremation grounds by family members.

He said most of the bodies were devoured by animals and their bones were left in the open.

Amar collects the bones and supplied them to smugglers, who send the bones to tantriks based in Bhutan and Japan and get hefty prices.

Singh said most of the skulls are used by tantriks for performing religious activities. He said Amar would be forwarded to judicial custody after he is presented in a local court on Thursday.

“Sanjay Prasad, who was arrested from Chhapra station premises, has been sent to jail on Wednesday,” he added.