In a freakish incident, a five-year-old boy was allegedly murdered by a man in a suspected case of human sacrifice as a part of a witchcraft-related ritual in Prakasam district on 30 September.
Advertisement
According to the police, P Tirumala Rao, 35, kidnapped Manu Sagar, 4, from an Anganwadi centre and took him to his house. He then collected the boy’s blood in a vessel and sprinkled it across his house, M. Lakshman, a police official, told PTI.
The incident occured in Pokuru village, where the accused, Tirumala Rao, was set on fire by locals after the murder came to light.
He was admitted at a hospital where he was being treated for burns. Villagers said Rao performed black magic and various pujas as he believed he would attain divine powers and wealth by human sacrifice. Hearing her cries, other villagers trooped in and were shocked to find body of the boy and utensils filled with blood. When her son didn’t return, anxious mother Adilakshmi reached the Anganwadi where she was informed by the staff that the boy had left for home. The woman went to Tirumala Rao’s house to enquire. After breaking the lock and entering the house, they found the child’s body. Not stopping there, the villagers set Rao ablaze, after pouring the kerosene. Rao was taken to the area hospital at Kandukur. Though the police has registered the case against the accuse and are looking into the details but the question remains unanswered that how many humans will be sacrificed further in the name of rituals?
Advertisement
Police were said to have discovered a sickle that was used to decapitate the child in the suspect’s home. “We will interrogate Rao once he recovers”, he added.
