Balangir: In a shocking case of suspected human sacrifice, a man has been arrested in connection with the recovery of a man’s headless body at a village in Odisha’s Balangir district.
The accused, identified as Shatrughna Sahu, was taken into custody after police recovered the severed head from a room inside his house.
The accused reportedly allegedly confessed to killing Santosh Kharsel, a mentally challenged man from Tebadamunda village under the jurisdiction of Tushura police station. The incident has sparked widespread concern over alleged tantric practices and superstition.
According to sources, Sahu allegedly lured Santosh to his house on August 18 by promising him food. Accused of being involved in tantric rituals, he then allegedly slit his throat inside the house and buried the severed head in the puja room.
His wife had allegedly been living separately with their son and daughter for around 10 years because of his tantric practices.
The incident came to light after a headless body was found floating in a pond around 50 metres from Sahu’s house.
Police reportedly received information that Santosh had last been seen with Sahu. When police reached Sahu’s house, they allegedly found him meditating inside after the door was opened.
During preliminary interrogation, Sahu reportedly told police that he had killed Santosh following an argument over drinking alcohol. However, after further interrogation, he allegedly admitted that he had buried Santosh’s severed head in the puja room. The accused then reportedly showed police the spot and helped recover the head.
Police suspect that the killing may have been linked to superstition and an alleged human sacrifice carried out as part of tantric practices.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact motive behind the murder and whether anyone else was involved in the crime.