Enduring 'Stoneman' mystery: 13 skulls crushed in the dead of night
This article explores the historical mystery of the 'Stoneman' serial killings that targeted homeless individuals in Mumbai and Kolkata during the 1980s. Despite multiple investigations, the identity of the perpetrator remains unknown and the cases remain unsolved.
Why it matters
The case highlights historical failures in law enforcement regarding the protection of marginalized and homeless populations in urban centers.
KOLKATA/MUMBAI: Long before true-crime documentaries turned unsolved murders into national conversations, a series of killings on the streets of Mumbai and Kolkata created one of country's enduring crime mysteries.The victims were largely pavement dwellers who were attacked while sleeping. Their heads were smashed with heavy stones or concrete slabs. The killings happened at night, and the person behind them was never conclusively identified.But the biggest mystery was not just who the killer was. It was whether there was one killer at all.13 killings in KolkataIn Kolkata, the killings began in June 1989.
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