Aurangabad: A 65-year-old man from Aurangabad, Bihar, was reportedly beheaded and his body burned in a ‘holy’ fire as part of alleged black magic rituals, according to a report by the news agency PTI, citing a police official.
Authorities have apprehended four individuals, including a relative of a ‘tantrik’, in connection with the murder, although the ‘tantrik’ remains at large.
The victim, identified as Yugal Yadav, was reported missing on March 13 at the Madanpur police station, as stated by Aurangabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Ambrish Rahul. He informed the media that a case was filed and a special investigation team was established to locate Yadav, who resided in Gulab Bigha village.
During the investigation, police discovered human bones among the ashes of a Holika Dahan fire in the nearby village of Banger, Rahul noted.
Upon a thorough examination of the site, authorities found charred human remains and slippers belonging to Yadav. Subsequently, a dog squad was deployed to assist in the investigation.
The dog squad led the police to the residence of Ramashish Rikyasan, a ‘tantrik’. However, he was not at home, and his relative, Dharmendra, was taken into custody due to inconsistencies in his statements regarding the tantrik’s location.
The SP stated, “During questioning, Dharmendra admitted that he and others had kidnapped and beheaded Yugal Yadav as part of black magic rituals. His torso was subsequently burned in the Holika Dahan fire. Following Dharmendra’s confession, police recovered the victim’s severed head from a nearby field.”
The tantrik allegedly performed a ‘black magic’ ritual for Sudhir Paswan, who was in search of a child. SP Rahul further revealed that Dharmendra confessed that the group had previously sacrificed a teenager, whose remains were disposed of in a well in the same area.
Authorities have arrested Paswan, Dharmendra, and two other individuals, while a minor boy has also been detained in connection with Yadav’s death, according to police reports.
“The police have confiscated the weapon used in the crime and have sent the recovered human bones for scientific analysis, including DNA testing,” stated the SP, who also mentioned that a manhunt is underway to locate the tantrik.
