Kampatimar Shankariya was born in 1952 in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, India. Very little is known or recorded about his early life, upbringing, or family background. Unlike many known serial killers whose childhoods are studied for patterns of abuse, trauma, or behavioral signs, Kampatimar’s early years remain largely undocumented. At the time of his arrest, he was 26 years old, suggesting that his descent into serial murder occurred in his mid-twenties.

He was a resident of Jaipur and reportedly worked various odd jobs. By all accounts, Kampatimar did not stand out in his community, and there were no prior indications that he was capable of violence on such a large scale. His crimes came to light only after his capture, when he shocked the Indian public by confessing to the murder of approximately 70 individuals over a two-year span. His arrest and subsequent confessions made headlines in India in the late 1970s, a period when serial killings were extremely rare and poorly understood within the country.

Between 1977 and 1978, Kampatimar Shankariya launched a disturbing and highly lethal murder spree across Jaipur, Rajasthan. His modus operandi was unique and horrifying: he would strike his victims below the ears with a hammer, causing instant death through trauma to the brainstem and upper spinal cord. This precise method of attack earned him the moniker "Kanpatimar", a Hindi term that roughly translates to "one who strikes beneath the ear."

What set Kampatimar apart from other killers was his stated motive—he claimed that he murdered for pleasure. His victims were chosen at random, often approached from behind in public or isolated spaces. There was no sexual component or robbery involved in the killings. The murders appeared entirely purposeless, executed solely to satisfy a compulsive need for violence.

He managed to evade detection for nearly two years despite leaving behind dozens of bodies. Law enforcement had difficulty tracking him, partly due to the random nature of the killings and lack of forensic tools available in India at the time. Eventually, in 1978, Kampatimar was arrested by Jaipur police. Upon interrogation, he confessed to killing at least 70 people, though no comprehensive victim list was ever confirmed, and his exact body count remains a matter of debate. His arrest was a national sensation, and the brutality and senselessness of his crimes deeply shocked Indian society.

In early 1979, he was tried and convicted of multiple murders. The court sentenced him to death by hanging, and he was executed at Jaipur Central Jail on May 16, 1979—the day after his 27th birthday. His execution came swiftly after his conviction, in contrast to the prolonged appeals process typical of modern capital punishment cases.

In his final statement before execution, Kampatimar expressed remorse, reportedly saying: “I have murdered in vain. Nobody should become like me.”