This research paper will discuss and unveil the mindset of serial killers with the help of relevant case studies. This paper will comprehensively study the history and stages of serial killers with

special reference to India. It will further discuss the factors responsible for the formation of serial killers regarding childhood abuse, family background and upbringing, socioeconomics, and other factors. This research paper will define the motivation of serial killers such as fantasy and rituals, gratification and control, and psychopathic tendencies.

It will also provide the behavioural patterns of serial killers such as victim selection, cooling period and signature behaviour. This research paper will discuss the case studies of the most infamous serial killers all around the

world such as Ted Bundy, Cyanide Mohan, Auto Shankar and many more. Further, this research paper will discuss the early signs of a serial killer. It will also discuss the implications for prevention and interventions. This research will compare and study the laws related to serial killers in India and the rest of the world. This study will further analyse and compare all the

aspects discussed above with the Indian scenario and the foreign scenario, it will provide a better understanding of what and how the mindset of a serial killer works and it will elaborate on many of the cases that happened around the world in different scenarios and upbringing. This research paper will provide and explain a variety of factors that mould the mind of a serial killer.

Introduction:
A serial killer is a term awarded to someone who kills three or more people. The number of murders varies from country to country, and authority to authority such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation considers two or more murders as a criterion.[1] It is widely argued that the series of murders must take place over a month and there must be a significant gap between the murders.

The main motive behind the serial killing is the psychological gratification of that person. Gratification is a sense of happiness after achieving a desired goal. Many factors are responsible for the transformation of a normal person into a serial killer such as their family background, financial condition, psychological, sociological, etc.

The main objective of this research paper is to analyze the need for a specific law dealing with serial killers. Serial killers are different from normal murderers as they follow distinctive patterns and their signatures differ from case to case. There is no separate law dealing with serial killers in Indian law. A serial killer is different from a mass murderer in many ways, the easiest way to differentiate between them is based on the cooldown period.

The serial killer often follows ritualistic behaviour in their crime. On the other hand, mass murderers typically kill multiple people in a single incident and a short period. The main aim of these persons is to cause widespread fear whereas serial killers perform the act to satisfy themselves.

This research paper will compare the laws regarding serial killers in different countries and governments' stand in classifying serial killers from murderers in other countries. Another main point that this research will discuss is the motivation that leads these killers in a cyclical mechanism.

The victims of such killers have something in common, such as Gender, age, race, qualification, etc. Serial killers have been exploiting the fact that no specific law deals with such crimes. They also take advantage of the loopholes in the Indian executory and judicial system.

Objective:
There are several objectives behind this research paper:

1. To analyze the motivations behind serial killings:
   This research paper will analyze the intention that works as a driving force or reason that leads individuals to serial killings. Understanding the motive of serial killings will help to get insights into the mindset of serial killers.
    
2. To analyze the common behavior patterns shown by serial killers:
   This research paper will also study the patterns and try to highlight the similarities in the behavioral patterns of various serial killers. By identifying these patterns, the paper will be able to develop the profiles and detection strategies.
    
3. To study the factors contributing to the development of serial killers:
   This research paper will study the socioeconomic and childhood factors that can lead to the formation of a serial killer. It will also analyze the role of society and social inequality as contributing factors that shape a serial killer.

Background
Serial killers are those individuals who commit a series of murders for some time. The main motive behind those killings is self-satisfaction. There is no specific definition for these individuals. Still, it is widely believed that a person with 2 or more murders within a specific period of cooling down is considered a serial killer. Serial killers commit a series of murders

with similar characteristics. Certain characteristics differentiate them from other criminals such as motivation, modus operandi, lack of emotional connections, etc. India is a diverse country with a vast population and is not immune to serial killers. Serial killers have terrorised the world for a very long period. The presence of serial killers can be traced down to ancient times.

India has witnessed various famous cases of serial killers such as Psycho Raman, Nithari brothers, etc that shocked the whole nation and showed the loopholes and defects in the Indian legal system about serial killers. Serial killers exploit these loopholes to delay or escape the consequences.

Therefore, it is essential to analyze the cases and suggest a separate law that can deal with cases of serial killers. The new specific law can help the system in dealing with serial killers effectively and efficiently.

Currently, the legal system relies on the provisions related to murder under the Indian Penal Code, of 1860 which does not capture the adequate distinct motivation and nature of the murders. This case study will study the prominent cases of serial killers and identify the problems and issues law enforcement agencies face. This study will further compare international laws and provide recommendations for forming specific laws that can tackle the issues in the current system.

History
Serial killers have a very vast history which can be traced back to the year 114BC. Liu Pengli, the nephew of Han Emperor Jing was believed to be the first serial killer in the world. He killed around 100 people before getting caught. But the first modern serial killer is the unidentified killer "Jack the Ripper”. He killed at least 5 women and is suspected of more in London in the year 1888. The history of serial killers in India can be classified into 3 stages.

Stage 1: Before Independence
The era before 1947 had experienced some cases of serial killings but we have minimal information due to improper system of records and lack of modern forensics. However, certain cases of thugs such as Thug Behram had been documented properly as he had a world record of strangling at least 931 victims.

Stage 2: After Independence (1947-2000)
This period is considered the golden age for serial killers. There has been a significant increase in the number of serial killers since independence. Some of the most famous cases such as the case of Raman Raghav, Cyanide Mohan, etc, take place during this stage.

The advancement in media and communication also played an important role in spreading awareness and reporting such cases of serial killers which could not be done before independence. The era has also seen some of the most infamous lady serial killers in India such as Seema Mohan and Renuka Kiran Shinde, these two sisters were convicted of kidnapping thirteen children and murdering five of them.

Stage 3: Present day (2000-2023)
The number of serial killers in India has decreased due to advancements in forensics, media and other technologies. Some cases shocked the whole nation such as Cyanide Mallika and Nithari Kand. The Nithari case plays an important role in describing the need for a specific law that deals with serial killers. The main accused in the case, i.e., Surinder Koli has been awarded 13

life sentences by the CBI special court. Improved forensic techniques, advanced communication, and international cooperation have helped in more effective investigations. On the other hand, challenges like a vast population and limited resources still left a gap in the existence of serial killers.

Formation of serial killers
A serial killer is a result of multiple factors related to his childhood, society, environment, and personality. The motivation behind their action reflects the complex nature of their criminal behaviour.

Let us discuss some of the most significant factors that lead to the formation of serial killers:

1. Childhood abuse:
   Child abuse and neglect are considered one of the major reasons behind the development of serial killers. Many studies have shown that many serial killers have experienced some sort of abuse and neglect in their early childhood. These experiences have a long-lasting impact on their psychology and emotional development.
   
    There are many forms of abuse that a child can face in his childhood such as physical, sexual, emotional, etc. Some other independent events had harmed the childhood of serial killers such as witnessing domestic violence and traumatic loss. A traumatic loss can be defined as a loss of loved ones or traumatic events that bring a feeling of grief or emotional loss. However, childhood abuse and neglect cannot be considered the sole factor for the formation of serial killers.
    
2. Family background and upbringing:
   Family background and upbringing play a crucial role in shaping the personality of an individual. For the development of serial killers' family background plays a significant role. Dysfunction in the family affects the environment in the house which affects the mental state of an individual.
   
   Many other factors affect the upbringing of the child such as childhood trauma and early exposure to violence. The lack of empathy and bonding also hinders the feelings and behaviour of an individual in society. The influence of genetics on the criminal behaviour of an individual is the subject of debate but some studies suggest that genetics can contribute to violent tendencies.
    
3. Socioeconomic factors:
   Socioeconomic factors within a society can play an important role in the formation of serial killers. An individual can transform into a serial killer for many reasons such as facing economic social isolation or discrimination may lead them into the world of crime. Social inequality can promote crime as it creates an environment where violence can become a way of asserting social respect and control.
   
   The lack of education and opportunities can also be considered a breeding ground for a criminal. A person having a lack of options for economic and social advancement may motivate him to opt for negative ways of development. A person who feels socially marginalized can develop anger toward society or some specific group.
    
4. Other factors:
   Various other factors can contribute to the formation of serial killers such as the behaviour of friends and society, biological factors, cultural factors etc. The chances of engaging in crimes based on the sole grounds mentioned above are very low as these grounds work collectively.

Case Analysis
Ted Bundy
Childhood
Ted Bundy, was born on November 24th, 1946 in the town of Burlington, Vermont, he was born to a woman named Eleanor Cowell when she was the age of 22 years old, and His father was never known. In an interview with him, He said that he hated his mother because she never told him the truth. He also told them that the situation in the house made him extremely alarmed and alert to everything and that made him anxious.

In college, Ted loved a girl who was a high-class lady by all manners and later on, broke up with him saying he was not ambitious enough.

Victim choosing
It can be seen that all the victims of Ted Bundy were young women that were in the college years of their lives, He had a multitude of ways to rope them in such as impersonating authority figures and leading them into his car where he would just strike their head and kidnap them, then he had his way with them and killed her.

It can be noted that all the victims had an awestruck similarity to the women he loved in his college.

His first victim was Georgann Hawkins who was an 18-year student who was killed on June 11, 1974

Killer sisters
Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit, often known as the killer sisters, were famous serial killers who terrorised the streets of Maharashtra with their horror.

The killer sisters' primary targets were unsuspecting minors who were either unsuspecting or too unlucky to flee and fell into their trap. They targeted the infants in densely populated areas such as temples or fairgrounds on occasion; these grounds were favourites of the victims because they were thickly populated and no one realised what had happened for a given period.

They kidnapped the children to force them to commit minor crimes such as shoplifting, chain snatching, and pocket cutting; they utilised children as a cover when committing these crimes.

They chose to steal large goods or more than a predetermined amount because no one would accuse a mother and a youngster of thievery. Typically, children were used in this manner, and if they complied, they would receive only a mild scolding and ranting, but nothing too severe.

Those who refused to cooperate would face dire consequences, such as a 2-year-old being hung from an electric pole and another being brutally beaten against a wall until he died, among other things. They were apprehended by authorities on November 19th while attempting to kidnap another youngster but were apprehended while doing so. The Killer sisters were eventually convicted guilty of 13 kidnappings and 10 killings and were eventually sentenced to life in jail

Cyanide Mohan
Mohan Kumar Vivekananda, known as Cyanide Mohan was a primary school physical education teacher from Karnataka. He targeted women who were looking to get married and from the same state, he targeted two types of women the first were those who were not able to pay for the dowry that usually was asked from them and the second was the ones who

were unable to find a husband and were eager to marry. He was presented before the court on the charges of luring women around the age of 22-35. He used to offer to marry them without dowry. After marriage, he used to give them cyanide pills and rob their jewellery. He was caught due to a case that happened in 2009, which involved his newly wedded wife Anitha, she left her home with gold and some money.

After a long period without contact with her daughter, her parents lodged a police complaint that their daughter was lured by a Muslim man and was now missing. The FIR sparked violence in the region. After a long investigation, the police found 20 cases of women across the state who were similarly killed or missing with no news.

Later on, the police connected all the murders to Cyanide Mukesh who gave these women cyanide pills to kill them after raping them. All the pieces of evidence were presented before the court which led to the death penalty which was commuted to life imprisonment by the Honourable Supreme Court.

Psycho Raman
Raman Raghav, infamously known as "Psycho Raman” was a citizen of the city of Mumbai. Police found multiple bodies at different intervals of time with almost the same way of death and harm. So the Mumbai police started an investigation to find the link between the 19 people who were attacked and 9 people who died. They found out that all the killings took place at night

everyone had a wound to the head that was with a blunt object. Police arrested Raman who at the time was homeless and was also jailed for robbery for 5 years. Due to the lack of evidence to convict him of the new crime that took place, the police did not have any choice but to leave him be, then another round of killing took place that aroused the suspicion of the police.

They found out with the testimonies of the ones who were attacked and the ones who saw what happened all directed to a single person who was Raman, police also found a set of fingerprints that matched Raman.

When the police went to arrest Raman, they found his muddy shows that showed that he was present in the muddy area where the latest act took place, upon further investigation they found out that his shirts had a trace amount of blood on them which tested positive to the ones that were attacked. With all this evidence the police arrested him for the murder of 9 people and grievously injuring 19 people.

Later on, when sentencing took place it was revealed that he had a disease called "Chronic Paranoid schizophrenia” which turned the death sentence into a life in jail.

After the whole incident, Raman Raghav was known as Psycho Raman and became infamous.

Motivation
There are various motivations behind the act of a serial killer. There can be several motivations depending on the circumstances in which a person is born and brought up. Some of the common motivations observed in the most infamous serial killers are fantasy, rituals, gratification, control and psychopathic tendencies.


Behavioural Pattern
Serial killer shows different behavioural pattern that leads to the creation of their criminal identity. These behavioural patterns include going through the victim selection, cooling-off period, and signature behaviour

1. Victim Selection
   Victim selection is one of the most crucial aspects of understanding the mindset of a serial killer. The pattern followed by serial killers in the selection of their victims can help law enforcement agencies in profiling and develop their strategies accordingly:
   
   1. Victimology
      Victimology is the study of the relationship between the victim and the offender. Victimology plays a crucial role in assisting the enthusiast and the law enforcement agencies in profiling and preventing them. It can also help in developing targeted policies that can prevent the transformation of an individual into a serial killer.
       
   2. Geographic and Temporal Patterns
      The geographic and temporal patterns assist them in a comprehensive analysis of a serial killer. Serial killers usually set up their comfort zones or hunting grounds within a specific location. By studying the geographical patterns of serial killers, enforcement agencies can narrow down the investigation area.
       
2. Cooling of Period:
   The cooling period for a serial killer is the gap between each murder. This period is an essential component of a serial killer as it also differentiates from other killers and mass murderers. This distinctive feature of serial killers provides an insight into the psychology of serial killers. This section will pay a significant discussion on the psychological aspect and motivations and triggers of serial killers.
   
   1. Psychological Significance
      The cooling-off period has its significance in the life of a serial killer. This period reveals the psychological scenery and provides crucial information regarding their emotional life, victim selection, and their motivation behind the murders. This cool down period helps the killers normalise their lives and allows them to prepare themselves for their next victims.
       
   2. Motivations and Triggers
      The cool down period of serial killers varies from case to case. This period may depend on the trigger points affected by external factors such as media attention, personal circumstances, etc. These intervals after each murder help the killer stabilise and get back to their regular lives.

Comparative study: Laws for Serial killers in various countries.
Laws in India to Punish Serial Killers
In India, the Indian Penal Code covers all the crimes committed against the state and of a criminal nature. The same code governs every act that a killer or a murderer commits as defined in section 302 of the code. Section 302 defines the punishment for murder that is either death or imprisonment for life. It can be seen that in the whole code, there is not a single mention of any crime when repeating what will be the prescribed punishment, as serial killings are nothing but continuous or numerous murders by an individual or a group of individuals.

Because section 302 of the IPC only punishes for a single offence of murder—a person can only be charged with one murder offence, not multiple ones—and the fact that there is no specific provision for serial killers in India, it could be assumed that although judges have the discretion to punish individuals more severely than for a single crime, they are still unable to impose punishments beyond those specified in the code.

Russian Laws Governing Serial Killers:
In Russia, the Russian Penal Code controls all crimes against the state as well as criminal offences such as murder. It is defined in Article 105 of the Russian Penal Code, which prescribes punishment for murder. There are two sorts of murder in Russia: either:

1. Common Corpus Delicti
2. Qualified Corpus Delicti
    

The first one is where the punishment is for only 6 to a maximum of 15 years of jail and nothing more but the second type of crime can be seen as aggravating and the punishment for this type of murder/crime could be punished for 8 to 20 years in prison or even the death penalty.

It can be seen in the Qualified Corpus Delicti or Article 105 clause (A) defines the qualified corpus delicti as the murder of two or more individuals so it can be looked at as a more serious crime of murder of two or more people which is serial killings in another word. It means that Russia like India does not have any separate provision for serial killings but has added a single clause in the main provision that can make a given sentence more severe than a single act.

Tanzanian laws on serial killings
According to the Tanzanian Indian penal code sections 197 and 198, These particular provisions deal with the punishment of murder and manslaughter which is given as the death penalty.

There are no specific provisions that deal with serial killers and a series of murders in the Tanzanian law system.

In Tanzania, capital punishment is solely applicable for two crimes: murder and treason; no other crime will result in the death penalty. As a result, no legislation or regulation punishes serial killers on an individual basis.

Summary
Reading the paper permits us to recognize the many various factors that contributed to the advent of serial killers. It emphasizes the tremendous effect of childhood abuse, family history and socioeconomic status on the development of individuals who later end up serial killers.

Childhood abuse and overlook have proven lasting outcomes on people’s psychological and emotional well-being, dropping light on how these studies can lead to competitive inclinations and highlighting the effect of dysfunctional family environments with empathy and absence of dating and look emphasized.

The position played using socioeconomic elements which include poverty, unemployment, and social inequality inside the perception of a capability deceased succession is clarified, giving us a complete view of the effect of the complex interplay of species chargeable for this phenomenon.

Furthermore, we can discover the complex motivations and behaviours exhibited by using serial killers. Like how serial killers’ motivations, along with delusion, ritual, complacency, and psychopathic dispositions, encourage their crook sports. Additionally, it describes the practices of serial killers consisting of selective choice, cooling time, and signature practices By clarifying

those examples, the paper emphasizes the significance of enabling law enforcement groups to broaden powerful identity and profiling strategies to become aware of and arrest serial killers.

Reading about infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy, Cyanide Mohan, and Otto Shankar presents precious insight into the complicated psychology and conduct

Lastly, we're able to see that there may be a need for precise rules tailor-made to deal with the specific traumatic situations posed by serial killers. It highlights the disparities in felony frameworks throughout one-of-a-kind global places, emphasizing the ability loopholes within the judicial machine that can be exploited by serial killers. This underscores the want for entire

criminal measures to deal with and mitigate the danger efficaciously posed with the aid of manner of serial killers, thereby safeguarding communities and improving public protection.

In essence, we will see a nuanced and complete exploration of the multifaceted elements, motivations, behavioural styles, and prison troubles pertinent to the phenomenon of serial killers, offering precious insights essential for expertise, addressing, and preventing this complicated societal trouble.

Finally, we can recognize the need for formal rules designed to deal with the unique demanding situations posed by way of serial killers. It highlights variations in prison structures in distinctive nations and highlights capacity loopholes in the justice device that may be exploited by using serial killers This highlights the want for complete felony frameworks to efficaciously manipulate and mitigate the risks posed by using cannibals to guard groups and beautify public safety.

Specifically, we can have a look at nuanced and complete insights into multidimensional factors, motivations, styles of conduct, and legal theories of the phenomenon of serial killers, to provide insight needed to understand, deal with, and prevent this complicated social difficulty

End-Notes:

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation

Written By:

1. Atharv
2. Akshat Parashar