The season-opening Diamond League in Doha, where India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra breached the 90m mark last season, is currently scheduled to go ahead as planned on May 8, though the organisers are monitoring the situation arising out of the military conflict in the region
The rule, introduced under the Code on Wages, will apply to all types of exits, including resignations, terminations, and layoffs, and aims to ensure faster and more structured payouts.New Delhi: From April 1, 2026, companies in India will be required to complete an employee’s full and final
Rishab Shetty is back in the spotlight, but this time not for a film release. The actor-director, last seen leading Kantara: Chapter 1, has reportedly stirred curiosity online after unfollowing several associates on social media. Did He Unfollow His Kantara Co-Stars?Rishab Shetty is back in the
Tilman Fertitta net worth: How rich is new Connecticut Sun owner? $300M deal explained Updated on: Mar 28, 2026 4:48 AM IST By Khushi Arora Share via Copy link Tilman Fertitta set to buy Connecticut Sun in $300M deal. (Instagram/ @tilmanfertitta) Key Takeaways Summary is AI-generated Tilman
Redmi 15A 5G launched in India with 6300mAh battery: Price, sale date, and key featuresRedmi 15A 5G smartphone has been launched in India. Here’s everything you should know. Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 1:49 PM IST Share via Copy link You may be interested in Redmi K90 Ultra Black 12GB / 16GB RAM
UK Sees Surge In Human Skull Trade, Sparking Fears Of Grave Robbing: 'It's Gruesome'
UK Sees Surge In Human Skull Trade, Sparking Fears Of Grave Robbing: 'It's Gruesome'
In a recent YouTube interview from his macabre curiosities shop in Essex, Henry Scragg appeared in a worn bowler hat, with tribal-style facial tattoos and a ginger beard flowing into three long dreadlocks.
“When it comes to human stuff, I'll take anything, pretty much," Scragg said. “As long as it's been ethically sourced, may I add."
The shop, Curiosities from the 5th Corner, provides a backdrop that could be plucked straight from a Victorian penny dreadful: a foetus of conjoined twins floats in a large medical jar at Scragg's elbow, shelves of human skulls and a hybrid animal skeleton loom behind. The shop's website markets a monthly human skull subscription (buyers are sent a skull of the shop's choice each month), mummified body parts, shrunken heads, and masks and wallets made from human leather, The Guardian reported.
While there is no indication that selling such items is illegal, experts — including Dame Sue Black, one of the UK's foremost forensic scientists — have urged tighter controls on the trade in human remains.
Experts warn that the lack of regulation leaves much of the trade in skulls and bones in a legal grey area, with the expanding online market raising fears of a modern form of “body snatching" amid reports of bones being taken from crypts and graveyards in the UK and overseas.
“You've got people who are breaking into mausolea and who are taking remains away to sell them for people who think this is gothic, quaint [or] supernatural," said Black, the president of St John's College, Oxford. “If you can make the sale of a bird's nest illegal, surely to goodness you can make the sale of a human body illegal. Having a necklace made out of somebody's teeth isn't acceptable to people."
Experts point out that part of the problem lies in how the law is applied. In the UK, desecrating a grave is a criminal offence, but human remains are not legally considered property and therefore cannot be “owned" or “stolen." As a result, possessing or selling historical remains — even if they were unlawfully exhumed — is not automatically a crime.
“It's gruesome," said Black. “It's why we say ‘Rest in peace.' You don't expect your body to be dug up and sold."
Dr. Trish Biers of Cambridge University's anthropology department leads a task force within the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) that monitors the trade in human remains. She noted a sharp rise in such sales in the UK in recent years. Over the past five years, BABAO has intervened to block more than 200 transactions, including those involving auction houses, shops, and online platforms.
Although the market has traditionally been dominated by ex-medical skulls and former museum pieces, Biers suggested there had been an increase in the sale of skulls described as “archaeological", the appearance of which is consistent with having been excavated from the ground or exhumed from coffins.
“Social media has completely changed the market," she said. “It's not illegal, and that's the problem."
Similar concerns were echoed in March by Mattaeus Ball, a Reading-based dealer in “macabre art and oddities," who recently declared he would cease trading in human remains.
“The waters are becoming too muddy with stolen pieces, pieces that are grave-robbed, so many things that just aren't right," he said in an Instagram post. “And people keep thinking I'm dealing in that, when I'm not." Ball declined to be interviewed.
The Guardian showed images of 10 skulls found on sale on Instagram and other UK online forums to three forensic experts. Several were judged to be ex-anatomical teaching skulls, but others appeared to be coated with dirt or traces of human tissue, which could indicate more recent excavation.
A skull listed for £995 on a Belfast-based website bore signs consistent with having been buried in soil. An expert pointed to “patches of darker organic matter, possible rootlets in the sutures and orbits, and indications of rodent gnawing." However, the site's owner denied that roots or rodents were responsible for the damage.
Another skull, missing several teeth and marketed for £795 on the website of a UK-based shop, appeared to have manganese oxide staining, the Guardian was told, which is consistent with that seen in bodies excavated from old graves.
At least three skulls displayed signs of softening, a condition that occurs when bones are exposed to the acidic environment inside a coffin during decomposition. One skull appeared to have recent facial damage and a thin, dark, flaky layer — characteristics “I have seen in skulls removed from coffins," said Black. “The white areas indicate recent damage, as they reveal the uncoloured bone beneath."
Swipe Left For Next Video
Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant, a forensic anthropologist at Cranfield University, said that, based on anatomical features, some of the skulls probably originated from outside the UK, including Asia and Africa, and may date as far back as the 19th century.
Paul Boateng, who is set to meet Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy next month to press for legal reforms, voiced particular concern over the trade in the remains of Indigenous ancestors. “The ongoing commerce in human beings after death, and their continued objectification, is profoundly repugnant and a source of national shame," he said.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Candidate lists OnlyFans as ‘recent experience’ for a director-level job role Walmart denies recent firings linked to H-1B visas Are we teaching enough of India’s recent past in our history classes Pakistan will not restrict mountaineering expeditions despite the recent deaths of climbers Recent Media Reports Are Premature Iranian state TV issues first official death toll from recent protests ISRO gets ready for one of its busiest times in recent memory Major tech outages in recent years Iran's Khamenei says recent anti-government protests akin to Rubio says Gaza mediators shared information on recent threat
When Geumseong's phone rang on Christmas Eve 2020, he answered nervously. The previous year he'd made the perilous journey to escape from North to South Korea, using an international underground network of safe houses and brokers. Eventually his mother's voice came from the speaker: "Geumseong
1 minutes ago
Hollywood actor Brad Pitt's words of wisdom emphasized that the pursuit of perfection can hinder personal growth. He encouraged letting go of perfectionism. Quote of the day: Brad Pitt's motivational words on personal growth — “Stop being perfect
1 minutes ago
Union Minister Hardeep Puri on Friday clarified that the central government is not considering any plan to impose a nationwide lockdown like at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Puri, on Friday clarified that the rumours of a Covid-19-like nationwide
1 minutes ago
The war in West Asia has cast a spotlight on India’s interests in the region. While the disruption of energy supply and maritime trade have taken precedence, the fate of 10 million Indians who work in Gulf countries has found little mention in public discourse
1 minutes ago
Lakhs of students who appeared for the Bihar Board 10th exam 2026 are eagerly awaiting the Bihar Board Matriculation Result 2026. The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) may announce the exact date and time for the Bihar Board Matriculation Result 2026 at any moment. According to media reports
1 minutes ago
For many, the fitness journey begins and ends with a number on the weighing scale. It’s the easiest metric to track, but also the most misleading. A lower number may feel like progress, but it doesn’t always reflect better health, improved strength, or a leaner body. In fact
1 minutes ago
Love Horoscope Today for March 28, 2026: Friends’ opinions may cloud your judgement; follow your heartDaily Love Horoscope March 28, 2026: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: Mar 28, 2026 6:03 AM IST By Neeraj Dhankher Share via Copy link Aries: Your social life
1 minutes ago
Silicon Valley is reeling from the seismic verdict delivered by an LA jury on Wednesday. Tech giants Meta and YouTube were found to be liable for designing their platforms to be addictive, which harmed a 20-year-old's mental health. The plaintiff at the heart of the case was only known by her first
1 minutes ago
Tiger Woods has been arrested on charges of driving under the influence after rolling his car in a crash in Florida, authorities have confirmed. The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the 15-time major champion was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test
1 minutes ago
Indian Oil buys first Iranian LPG since 2018 as shortage worsensThe 43,000 tons of propane and butane that Indian Oil is shipping from Iran is enough to meet half a day's demand, underscoring the LPG shortage in India. Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 2:28 PM IST Bloomberg Share via Copy link Indian Oil
1 minutes ago
Restaurants and food delivery platforms are adopting a cautious hiring approach for the IPL season due to LPG supply disruptions impacting operations. While demand from cricket fans is expected, limited kitchen capacity and menu restrictions are leading to a more selective hiring process
1 minutes ago
Star Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has been pulled up by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he tweeted about the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The board has said that Naseem violated the terms of his central contract and issued him a show-cause notice
1 minutes ago
The Artemis II crew has arrived in Florida for final preparations for NASA's first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. This 10-day mission will send astronauts on a loop around the Moon, testing the Orion spacecraft's deep space capabilities. The mission features the first Black, female
1 minutes ago
The Union government has cut the special additional excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre from Rs 13 per litre, and on diesel to zero from Rs 10. This is expected to help oil marketing companies keep petrol and diesel prices stable.The Union government has cut the special additional excise
1 minutes ago
Congestion ease at IGI, boost to logistics: PM Modi to inaugurate Noida International airport todaySpread over 11,742.45 acres, the Noida International Airport will be home to an 87-acre multi-modal cargo hub, a 40-acre maintenance, repair and operation hub Updated on: Mar 28
1 minutes ago
Are schools open in Ghaziabad today? Check order ahead of Noida airport launchThe revised order, however, leaves unanswered questions over whether 800 school buses earlier requisitioned for the event will still be taken over. Published on: Mar 28
1 minutes ago
Phil Foden's World Cup audition ended painfully with the consoling arm of England head coach Thomas Tuchel around his shoulder. The 25-year-old's face was a picture of hurt, primarily from a dreadful challenge by Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo that left him clutching his ankle
1 minutes ago
A devastating snow avalanche struck the Zojilla Pass on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred in the zero point area connecting the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh. Seven individuals from Kargil lost their lives in the tragedy. Five others sustained injuries
1 minutes ago
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken a strong stance against what she perceives as systemic targeting of certain communities during the electoral roll revision. Accusing officials of removing lakhs of names arbitrarily, she has labeled the absence of the first supplementary list
1 minutes ago
Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi is confident of repeating his father's success in bringing the party back to power, citing a strong "undercurrent for change." He highlighted the formation of a six-party coalition and a vision for a "Greater Assam" that empowers its people and fosters unity
1 minutes ago
Techie burnt out at 15 LPA job, considers quitting without an offer: ‘Never enjoyed it’In a Reddit post, a techie shared how, after graduating in 2024, a service-based company offered a permanent WFH role with a salary of 15 LPA. Updated on: Mar 28
1 minutes ago
Haryana: HC breather for 10,000 govt employeesWhile disposing of a clutch of review applications, the bench of justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and justice Sudeepti Sharma held that the recruitment made for the posts in 24 groups with nearly 10,000 employees did not warrant interference Published on:
1 minutes ago
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that his government would “break the backbone” of “Miyas” in the state if the Bharatiya Janata Party returns to power in the Assembly elections, PTI reported. Speaking at a campaign rally in Dhakuakhana of Lakhimpur district
1 minutes ago
According to media reports, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf have been removed from Israel’s hit list after Pakistan requested that Washington not target them. A Pakistani source privy to the matter told Reuters that Israel wanted to kill them
1 minutes ago
I’ve been travelling through districts in West Bengal with sizeable Muslim populations—Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Birbhum—speaking with people from all walks of life. From small traders and madrassa teachers to daily wage workers and local voices
1 minutes ago
Haryana moving from LPG to PNG: Saini to PM ModiAccording to the chief minister, 3.32 lakh PNG connections have been provided in the state so far; to further boost expansion, the provision of deemed permission has been introduced for laying PNG networks Published on: Mar 28
1 minutes ago
The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Election Commission to decide within two months a plea filed against Bharatiya Janata Party’s B Gopalakrishnan for making allegedly communal remarks during his campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections, Live Law reported
1 minutes ago
