The Bihar police arrested three persons in connection with the recovery of  27 human skulls and over 100 broken pieces of bones -- of arms and legs -- in a Siliguri-bound bus on a national highway near Dighwara in Chapra district following a tip-off. The skulls and bones were kept in two airbags.

Chapra Superintendent of Police Sanjay Singh told rediff.com on Friday that bus driver Pramod Kumar, conductor Raj Kumar Singh and khalasi Kedar Singh were arrested.

"The police have been interrogating them to know about this racket," Singh said.

The police, during a search operation, recovered skulls and bones in the private bus operating between Siliguri and Chapra on Thursday evening.

Police sources said the bones look very old and seem to have been extricated from graves.

Inspector General (HQ) Anil Sinha said investigation is on in this case.

Police officials suspect the smuggling of skulls and bones have been going for years for tantra purposes during Durga Puja.