Raman Raghav, also known as the "Sindhi Dalwai", was a notorious Indian serial killer who terrorized the streets of Mumbai in the mid-1960s. He is believed to have killed at least 41 people, mainly pavement dwellers and beggars, in a span of two years. Raghav's modus operandi was to bludgeon his victims to death with a blunt object, mostly a metal rod or a stone, and sometimes even strangling them with a piece of cloth. His killings were characterized by extreme brutality and a complete lack of remorse or guilt.
Early Life and Criminal Activities:
Raman Raghav was born in 1929 in the village of Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, India. He was the son of a police constable and had two brothers and two sisters. Raghav's father died when he was very young, and his mother remarried. His stepfather was an alcoholic and often beat him and his siblings. Raghav dropped out of school at a young age and began stealing to support himself.
Raghav's first brush with the law came in 1960 when he was arrested for stealing a pair of shoes. He was sent to jail for three months, and this proved to be a turning point in his life. While in jail, he became addicted to drugs and developed a fascination with crime. He was released from jail in 1963, but his criminal activities continued. He was arrested again in 1966 for stealing a bicycle, and it was during this time that the police began to suspect him of being a serial killer.
Murder Spree:
Raghav's murder spree began in 1965 when he killed a homeless man with a stone. He continued to kill at regular intervals, and the police were baffled by the seemingly random nature of the killings. The victims were mostly pavement dwellers and beggars, and they were killed in the early hours of the morning when the streets were empty. Raghav would strike his victims on the head with a metal rod or a stone, causing severe head injuries that led to their deaths.
The police had no leads on the killer's identity until a young constable named Ramesh Mahale stumbled upon a clue. Mahale was on night patrol duty in the Sion area of Mumbai when he spotted a man moving suspiciously. When he approached the man, he saw that he was carrying a metal rod and had bloodstains on his shirt. The man was Raman Raghav.
Raghav was arrested and confessed to the killings. He showed no remorse and even boasted about his crimes. He claimed that he was on a mission to rid the world of "bad people" and that he was following the orders of a Hindu goddess. He was sent to a mental hospital for evaluation, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Legacy:
Raman Raghav's killing spree lasted for two years, during which he killed at least 41 people. His modus operandi and lack of remorse made him one of the most chilling serial killers in Indian history. He was the subject of several books and movies, including the 2016 film "Raman Raghav 2.0" directed by Anurag Kashyap. Raghav's legacy has also sparked debates about mental health and the treatment of mentally ill people in India.
In conclusion, Raman Raghav's story is a chilling reminder of the horrors that can be committed by individuals with severe mental illnesses. His brutal killings and lack of remorse continue to fascinate and horrify people to this day.
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