Female Priest Among 4 Held For Suspected Human Sacrifice Of 14-Year-Old In Odisha

Angul: A day after a mob torched a police vehicle, alleging inaction in the suspected human sacrifice incident, Kiakata police in Odisha’s Angul district arrested four persons – priest Ritanjali Bagh of Tusara village, her associate and both her sons – on Saturday.

Athamallik SDPO, Balakrishna Kuanr said they are being interrogated to ascertain how 14-year-old Sanchit Biswal died. “The body found hanging from the tree in Barini forest was highly decomposed and the lower part was detached from the upper portion. Police are investigating the case from all angles,” he said.

A scientific team and dog squad were pressed into service for investigation.

On July 22, the boy, who had been ailing for sometime, was taken by his mother Basanti, to Ritanjali who performs a certain puja. The mother and son were made to sleep in separate rooms in the ashram that night. The next morning when Basanti could not find her son in the ashram, she went to Kiakata police station to lodge a case but the police reportedly declined. However, a case was later registered.

On Friday, the recovery of mutilated body of Sanchit sparked off tension in the area and the people set on fire the police vehicle in protest. They also staged a road blockade on Kiakata-Athamallick road, which was lifted after Kuanr’s assurance of action in the matter.