Sixth body exhumed from area near Dr Death’s house: Police

By Sandeep Kolhatkar Wai (Maha), Aug 19 (PTI) Satara District Police todayexhumed a sixth skeleton believed to be that of a woman, froman open space near the house of Santosh Pol, now dubbed as ‘DrDeath’, in Dhom village, 13 kms from here. According to police, Pol has confessed to killing sixpeople, including five women, between 2003 and 2016. Earlier,he had told his interrogators that he had thrown VanitaGaikwad’s body into backwaters of Dhom reservoir. However, he later changed his statement and told the copsthat he had buried the body of Gaikwad in an open space nearhis house in the village in August 2006. "We had interrogated Pol and as per the information givenby him, we started the work of digging at the spot and exhumeda skeleton. "It is believed to be that of Gaikwad. It will beconfirmed once the forensic report comes," Vijay Pawar,Additional Superintendent of Police, Satara, said. Gaikwad used to live a few houses away from the spotwhere her body was buried. Remains of the first victim, Surekha Chikane, whom Polhad allegedly killed in 2003, were exhumed from the sameplace. Other four skeletons were found buried in his poultryfarm, 3 kms from his house. Meanwhile, a large posse of police escorted Pol to hishouse where the work of digging started in the presence ofwitnesses and the police ‘patil’ of the village. With curiosity gripping Satara, the entire village hasbeen gathering around Pol’s house to see police recover theremains of the victims. 42-year-old Pol, who claims to have a BAMS degree inelectropathy, was arrested last week in connection with themurder of a woman anganwadi worker, Mangala Jedhe. The police is probing the authenticity of his degree. Several families in the area have approached police aboutmissing persons in and around Wai, saying they fear foul play.PTI SPK ARS DK AAR SCAAR