Stoneman - Revision history

50.192.129.54: /* Summer of 1989 in Calcutta */

2021-09-27T23:36:47Z

Summer of 1989 in Calcutta

49.37.47.176 at 01:19, 25 August 2021

2021-08-25T01:19:22Z

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{{about||people named Stoneman|Stoneman (surname)|the [[Mega Man]] enemy|Robot Master|the film|The Stoneman Murders}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox murderer
| name = Stoneman
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_name =
| alias = 
| birth_date = 
| birth_place =
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| cause =
| conviction =
| sentence =
| victims = 13–26
| beginyear = 1985
| endyear = 1989
| country = [[India]]
| states =
| apprehended =
| imprisoned =
}}

The '''Stoneman''' is a name given by the popular English-language print media of [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], [[India]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-11-20|title=8 Indian Serial Killers Who Will Give You GooseBumps|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/8-indian-serial-killers-who-will-give-you-goosebumps-228474.html|access-date=2021-03-22|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref> to an unidentified [[serial killer]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Stoneman Murders|url=https://vocal.media/criminal/the-stoneman-murders|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Criminal|language=en}}</ref> who murdered at least 13 homeless people in Calcutta during their sleep in 1989. The name is also given to the perpetrator of a similar series of murders in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] from 1985 to 1988. It has been speculated that these were the work of the same person, who could have been responsible for as many as 26 murders.

The Stoneman was blamed for thirteen murders over six months (the first in June 1983), but it was never established whether the crimes were committed by one person or a group of individuals. The [[Kolkata Police Force|Calcutta Police]] also failed to resolve whether any of the crimes were committed as a [[copycat crimes|copycat murder]]. To date, no one has been charged with any of the crimes; all thirteen cases remain unsolved.

==Bombay killings==
The first hint of a [[serial-killer]] who was targeting homeless ragpickers and beggars in India came from [[Bombay]]. Starting in 1985, and lasting well over two years, a series of twelve murders were committed in the [[Sion, India|Sion]] and [[King's Circle]] locality of the city. The criminal or criminals' ''modus operandi'' was simple: first they 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 [[Bombay 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. To this date the case is unsolved.

==Summer of 1989 in Calcutta==
Whether or not the Bombay 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 the assailant(s) was familiar with the Bombay episodes, if not the same killer himself.

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. Most of the murders took place in central Calcutta, adjoining the [[Howrah Bridge]].<ref name="ghoshhtimes">{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Ritujay |title=The elusive stoneman of Kolkata |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-elusive-stoneman-of-kolkata/story-BQBcCHfk87WvoLp2LSCKRN.html |website=HinduSan Stimes.com |publisher=Ritujay Ghosh |accessdate=11 October 2018}}</ref>

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. To date, the crimes remain unsolved.

==Stoneman in Guwahati==
Similar incidents were reported in [[Guwahati]] city of [[Assam]] state during February 2009.

==Film adaptations based upon the events==
Producer [[Bobby Bedi]] produced a film titled ''[[The Stoneman Murders]]'' based on these incidents. The film released on 13 February 2009, starring [[Kay Kay Menon]] and [[Arbaaz Khan]], and written and directed by [[Manish Gupta (director)|Manish Gupta]]. Gupta said that his story for the movie is 40% fact and 60% fiction. The movie depicts the killings to be a part of a religious ritual being conducted by a policeman, with the actual perpetrator left open to interpretation at the end.

In 2011, a Bengali film named ''[[Baishe Srabon]]'' was released, 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 murderer is shown to choose victims mostly from the poor and homeless sector of society; either sex workers, drug users or street people. However, the film ends with the serial killer shooting himself after confessing to all his crimes: a clear deviation from the facts.

==See also==
*[[Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders]]
*[[2006 Noida serial murders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://telegraphindia.com/1040319/asp/calcutta/story_3019098.asp Murder reported in 2004 similar to "Stoneman" killings of 1989]
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/436586.cms Report on alleged suspect in section of Times of India article from Jan 2004]

[[Category:1985 in India]]
[[Category:Unidentified serial killers]]
[[Category:Murder in India]]
[[Category:Murder in 1985]]
[[Category:Indian serial killers]]
[[Category:Criminals from Kolkata]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:06, 28 September 2021
Line 33:		Line 33:
	The first hint of a [[serial-killer]] who was targeting homeless ragpickers and beggars in India came from [[Bombay]]. Starting in 1985, and lasting well over two years, a series of twelve murders were committed in the [[Sion, India\|Sion]] and [[King's Circle]] locality of the city. The criminal or criminals' ''modus operandi'' was simple: first they 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 [[Bombay Police]] began to see a pattern in the crimes.		The first hint of a [[serial-killer]] who was targeting homeless ragpickers and beggars in India came from [[Bombay]]. Starting in 1985, and lasting well over two years, a series of twelve murders were committed in the [[Sion, India\|Sion]] and [[King's Circle]] locality of the city. The criminal or criminals' ''modus operandi'' was simple: first they 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 [[Bombay 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~~.		A homeless waiter survived one of the Stoneman’s attacks and managed to escape to report it to police, 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.

	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.		Shortly afterwards, in 1987, a [[ragpicker]] was hacked to death in the adjoining suburb of [[Matunga]]. Even though the police and the media suspected the Stoneman killer, no evidence linking the incidents was ever found.

	~~As mysteriously as the killings had started, by~~ the middle of 1988, ~~they~~ stopped. ~~To this date the~~ case is unsolved.		In the middle of 1988, the killings suddenly stopped. The case remains unsolved.

	==Summer of 1989 in Calcutta==		==Summer of 1989 in Calcutta==
	Whether or not the Bombay 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 the assailant(s) was familiar with the Bombay episodes, if not the same killer himself.		Whether or not the Bombay killings were linked to the Calcutta "Stoneman" killings has never been confirmed. However, the similarity in the instrument, choice of victims, execution, and the time of the attacks suggests the assailant(s) was familiar with the Bombay episodes, if not the same killer himself.

	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. Most of the murders took place in central Calcutta, adjoining the [[Howrah Bridge]].<ref name="ghoshhtimes">{{cite web \|last1=Ghosh \|first1=Ritujay \|title=The elusive stoneman of Kolkata \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-elusive-stoneman-of-kolkata/story-BQBcCHfk87WvoLp2LSCKRN.html \|website=HinduSan Stimes.com \|publisher=Ritujay Ghosh \|accessdate=11 October 2018}}</ref>		The first victim in Calcutta died from injuries to the head in June 1989. Twelve more murders attributed to the Stoneman were reported within the following six months. All of the murdered were homeless pavement-dwellers who slept alone in dimly lit areas of the city. Most of the murders took place in central Calcutta, adjoining the [[Howrah Bridge]].<ref name="ghoshhtimes">{{cite web \|last1=Ghosh \|first1=Ritujay \|title=The elusive stoneman of Kolkata \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-elusive-stoneman-of-kolkata/story-BQBcCHfk87WvoLp2LSCKRN.html \|website=HinduSan Stimes.com \|publisher=Ritujay Ghosh \|accessdate=11 October 2018}}</ref>

	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.		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 absence of any eyewitness description, no confirmed physical description ever became 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. ~~To date, the~~ crimes remain unsolved.		Police were deployed into various parts of the city, and numerous arrests were made. After a spell of arrests in which a handful of "suspicious persons" were detained for questioning, the killings stopped. However, citing a lack of evidence, the suspects were released into the public. The crimes remain unsolved.

	==Stoneman in Guwahati==		==Stoneman in Guwahati==
Line 52:		Line 52:

	==Film adaptations based upon the events==		==Film adaptations based upon the events==
	Producer [[Bobby Bedi]] produced a film titled ''[[The Stoneman Murders]]'' based on these incidents. The film released on 13 February 2009, starring [[Kay Kay Menon]] and [[Arbaaz Khan]], and written and directed by [[Manish Gupta (director)\|Manish Gupta]]. Gupta said that his story for the movie is 40% fact and 60% fiction. The movie depicts the killings to be a part of a religious ritual being conducted by a policeman, with the actual perpetrator left open to interpretation at the end.		Producer Bobby Bedi produced a film titled ''[[The Stoneman Murders]]'' based on these incidents. The film released on 13 February 2009, starring [[Kay Kay Menon]] and [[Arbaaz Khan]], and written and directed by [[Manish Gupta (director)\|Manish Gupta]]. Gupta said that his story for the movie is 40% fact and 60% fiction. The movie depicts the killings to be a part of a religious ritual being conducted by a policeman, with the actual perpetrator left open to interpretation at the end.

	In 2011, a Bengali film named ''[[Baishe Srabon]]'' was released, 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 murderer is shown to choose victims mostly from the poor and homeless sector of society; either sex workers, drug users or street people. However, the film ends with the serial killer shooting himself after confessing to all his crimes: a clear deviation from the facts.		In 2011, a Bengali film named ''[[Baishe Srabon]]'' was released, 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 murderer is shown to choose victims mostly from the poor and homeless sector of society; either sex workers, drug users or street people. However, the film ends with the serial killer shooting himself after confessing to all his crimes: a clear deviation from the facts.