Puri: Police in Kumbharpada, two and a half km from Puri town, have seized 30 human skulls from the residence of an ONGC engineer Khireshwar Sahu, also known as Manu Bhai.
Local residents say there are more than 100 human skulls inside the home in Siddham Vihar colony. Police have detained Sahu and is interrogating him.
During interrogation, Manu Bhai told police that his residence was not an ashram. "It is a motivational centre. We motivate people so that they stop being afraid. I have kept these skulls in order to caution people who sometimes indulge in theft in my home."
Manu Bhai said, he procured some of the human skulls from crematoriums, while several others are artificially created by a man residing in Katakipentha.
"If collecting skulls is a crime, then I am a criminal", said Manu Bhai. Police is trying to carry out tests on these skulls, to ascertain from where they were procured.
The engineer owns more than 5 ashrams in and around Puri. People suspect he used to indulge in sorcery.
Local female residents said, the baba used to behave suspiciously. He used to stealthily enter the room, close the door from inside for long hours. He has been doing this for the last 15 years.
The baba has written strange poems in Odiya on the walls of his home. One of the poems: (translated into Hindi) Main lakdi, Main patthar, Main ghoomta kutta, Main kapati, Main kamuk, Main Mahachor.
Thagna mera dharma, jaati meri chor Mujhe nahin pata, kaun mera apna, koun paraya.
One of the human skulls has been coloured red and placed on a trishul. Two other skulls have also been painted red. On the wall outside is written: "Yahan swarg jaane ka ticket milta hai (translated from Odiya).
