Man Arrested For Attempt To ‘Sacrifice’ His Father For Hidden Treasure In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: In an incident that puts a question mark on human relationship, a man allegedly attempted to offer his old father as sacrifice during a tantric puja in lure of hidden treasure in Kalahandi district.

According to sources, the man, identified as Lingaraj Bhoi of Belpada village under Jaypatna police station, used to brutally assault and torture his father Baldev Bhoi over petty issues. Lingaraj had become so violent in the last few days that his wife left him and went to stay with a relative along with her minor son.

On the advice of a priest, Linagaraj made preparation to perform the sacrificial puja on Friday afternoon. He took his father to a tubewell in the village, made him take bath, dressed him with new clothes and put garlands of flower and garlic on him. Then, the priest started performing puja to sacrifice Baladev in Lingaraj’s house.

On coming to know about the puja and Lingaraj’s plan to sacrifice Baldev, his neighbours informed the police outpost at Kalampur. The outpost in-charge, Bipin Kumar Jharia, constable Santosh Kumar Panda and Gramrakshi Gangaram Bag went to the village.

While the police team was bringing Baldev out of the house after rescuing him, Lingaraj started attacking them from inside. He threw stones, iron rods, axe and household materials at the police team. Gangaram, who was seriously injured in the attack, was admitted to community health centre at Kalampur.

On being informed about the attack by outpost in-charge,  the IIC of Jaypatna police station rushed a police team to the village. They managed to nab Lingaraj and arrested him and the priest. Both the arrested persons were produced before the court.

Lingaraj and the priest were sent to jail after the court rejected their bail applications on Saturday.