The Stoneman Murders

A series of killings of people sleeping outdoors in Mumbai and Kolkata during the 1980s became known as the Stoneman murders. No perpetrator was conclusively identified.

Victims attacked while sleeping

During the 1980s, a series of killings in Mumbai and later Kolkata targeted people sleeping outdoors. Victims were typically attacked at night with heavy stones or concrete objects, leading newspapers to use the name “Stoneman.”

Were the cities connected?

The Mumbai and Kolkata attacks shared important similarities, but investigators never conclusively proved that one person committed both series. That uncertainty is central to the case: “Stoneman” may describe one roaming offender, copycat crimes or more than one killer.

Police pressure without a breakthrough

Police increased patrols, detained and questioned suspects and tried to identify patterns among the victims and locations. The killings eventually stopped, but no prosecution established who was responsible.

A cold case with limited forensic evidence

Because many attacks occurred in public spaces decades before modern surveillance and DNA practices, investigators had comparatively little durable evidence to work with. The Stoneman murders remain one of India’s best-known unresolved serial-homicide mysteries.