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2 Pakistanis Suspected of Cannibalism After Head Is Found 2 Pakistanis Suspected of Cannibalism After Head Is Found
(5 months later)
LAHORE, Pakistan — In a macabre case that has transfixed and horrified Pakistanis, the police on Monday arrested a man suspected of cannibalism after they found an infant’s head at his home. LAHORE, Pakistan — In a macabre case that has transfixed and horrified Pakistanis, the police on Monday arrested a man suspected of cannibalism after they found an infant’s head at his home.
The police acted after complaints from neighbors about a foul smell coming from the home of the man, Muhammad Arif, in Bhakkar, a remote agricultural district in Punjab Province.The police acted after complaints from neighbors about a foul smell coming from the home of the man, Muhammad Arif, in Bhakkar, a remote agricultural district in Punjab Province.
When the police discovered the head, Mr. Arif said his older brother had disinterred a baby’s body from a local graveyard. The brothers then cooked and ate the remains, said Amir Abdullah, the district police chief.When the police discovered the head, Mr. Arif said his older brother had disinterred a baby’s body from a local graveyard. The brothers then cooked and ate the remains, said Amir Abdullah, the district police chief.
After the police arrested Mr. Arif and began a search for his brother Farman Ali, the news swept the country — not just for the horror of the case, but also for its familiarity. The brothers already had been immortalized in headlines as the Bhakkar cannibals three years ago.After the police arrested Mr. Arif and began a search for his brother Farman Ali, the news swept the country — not just for the horror of the case, but also for its familiarity. The brothers already had been immortalized in headlines as the Bhakkar cannibals three years ago.
The two admitted in 2011 to eating five corpses they had disinterred from a graveyard. As cannibalism is not a crime in Pakistan, they were convicted of defiling human bodies. The brothers served almost a year and a half in prison and were fined about $500 each. After the men’s release from jail, townspeople burned tires on a highway, blocking traffic, in protest.The two admitted in 2011 to eating five corpses they had disinterred from a graveyard. As cannibalism is not a crime in Pakistan, they were convicted of defiling human bodies. The brothers served almost a year and a half in prison and were fined about $500 each. After the men’s release from jail, townspeople burned tires on a highway, blocking traffic, in protest.
Since their release last year, the men have lived on their own, the police said.Since their release last year, the men have lived on their own, the police said.
In 2011, a cousin told the newspaper Dawn that the brothers had suffered a disturbed childhood after the death of their mother. They rarely met with neighbors or relatives, the cousin said, and both men had been abandoned by their wives.In 2011, a cousin told the newspaper Dawn that the brothers had suffered a disturbed childhood after the death of their mother. They rarely met with neighbors or relatives, the cousin said, and both men had been abandoned by their wives.
Their father lived with them for a time but eventually moved to the house of another son, the relative said.Their father lived with them for a time but eventually moved to the house of another son, the relative said.
One police inspector told the BBC last August that the brothers claimed to have fallen under the influence of a local man who presented himself as a sorcerer.One police inspector told the BBC last August that the brothers claimed to have fallen under the influence of a local man who presented himself as a sorcerer.
According to some news media reports, the brothers spent part of their prison term at the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, where they were examined by specialists in neurology.According to some news media reports, the brothers spent part of their prison term at the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, where they were examined by specialists in neurology.
“We have also referred the case to the local hospital for medical and psychological examination,” Mr. Abdullah said.“We have also referred the case to the local hospital for medical and psychological examination,” Mr. Abdullah said.