A shocking case recently rocked India, with five people arrested in connection with the death of a seven-year-old boy, allegedly the victim of a ritual sacrifice to bring prosperity to a government school. The incident took place in Hathras, not far from the famous Taj Mahal. The boy was found dead in his bed in the dormitory of the school where he was residing.
Instead of informing the authorities, the school principal, Dinesh Baghel, allegedly hid the body in the trunk of his car. According to the police, the boy was killed before a black magic ceremony conducted by Baghel’s father. This tragedy led to the arrest of the principal, his father and three other teachers of the school.
While the precise details surrounding the boy’s death have not been revealed, local media reports indicate that the body has been subjected to an autopsy. It is worth noting that India’s National Crime Records Bureau has recorded 103 cases of human sacrifice between 2014 and 2021 in the country.
Ritual sacrifices are typically performed to appease deities and are more common in tribal and remote areas, where beliefs in witchcraft and the occult are widespread. The previous year, five men were arrested for the 2019 murder of a 64-year-old woman, who was beheaded with a machete after she visited a temple in remote northeast India. Police revealed that the alleged ringleader had held a religious rite to commemorate the anniversary of his brother’s death.
These tragic events highlight the persistence of archaic and dangerous practices within some communities in India. They also stress the need for increased awareness and education to combat such beliefs and protect the most vulnerable in our society. Justice must be served to ensure such horrific acts do not happen again.