9-year-old killed, human sacrifice suspected

In a suspected case of human sacrifice, the body of a nine-year-old boy was found from fields near Muradnagar, on Tuesday morning.

In a suspected case of human sacrifice, the body of a nine-year-old boy was found from fields near Muradnagar, on Tuesday morning.

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Parents of the class 4 student alleged that their son was abducted and sacrificed by four persons, including three women.

Ritik Singh was found dead with deep cut marks over his throat, police said. He had been missing since Saturday.

“The child went missing on Saturday after he had gone to a shop to buy toffees. We also gave a written complaint to the police after he went missing. On Tuesday, his body was found with his throat slit and his forehead smeared with sindoor (vermilion). He has been killed by people engaged in black-magic,” said Jai Prakash Singh, the boy’s father.

When the area residents came to know of the murder, they beat up the women suspects, and one of them had to be hospitalised, police said.

Detailed interrogation of a local guard revealed that the child was ‘sacrificed’ on Sunday evening and later, the rituals were performed.

On the guard’s tip-off, the police have detained four persons in this connection and have started their interrogation.

“One of the women is hospitalised after being thrashed by the locals. Three persons, including two women and a man, are in our custody. The reasons would be clear after the post-mortem examination and interrogation are over,” said SP (Rural) KK Asthana.