A chilling case of murder in Uttar Pradesh has exposed a disturbing belief in ‘black magic’ rituals. In a horrific incident that has shaken the community, a 2nd-grade student, identified as Kritarth, was brutally murdered as part of a ritual to bring fame and prosperity to his school.
The harrowing events unfolded on September 23 when Kritarth was abducted from the school hostel by a teacher. He was then taken to a secluded location for the sacrifice. However, the young boy woke up, crying, and was strangled to silence him. The horrifying details were revealed by Ashok Kumar Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), quoting from the police investigation.
Five individuals have been apprehended in connection with this heinous crime, including Jasodhan Singh, the school owner, his son Dinesh Baghel, the school director, the principal Laxman Singh Ramprakash Solanki, and two teachers, Veerpal Singh and another unnamed teacher.
Jasodhan Singh, driven by a belief in ‘tantrik rituals’, reportedly instructed his son to sacrifice a child for the school’s and his family’s prosperity. The child’s parents were misled, initially told that Kritarth was unwell and being taken to a hospital. Later, they were informed that his condition had worsened and he was being transported to Sadabad.
The boy’s father recounted the harrowing ordeal: “We followed them towards Agra, but they didn’t stop the car. When we returned, we caught up with them in Sadabad, where we found the child’s body in their car.”
The post-mortem report confirmed the grim reality – Kritarth had been strangled. Shockingly, this wasn’t the first attempt at such a ritual. The accused had previously tried to ‘sacrifice’ another student on September 6 but failed.
During the investigation, the accused admitted to killing the student for ‘sacrifice’ to bring good fortune to the school.
Hathras Superintendent of Police, Nipun Aggarwal, confirmed the arrests, stating, “We have arrested five people.” The accused have been charged under section 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remanded to judicial custody.
This appalling incident has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the perpetuation of such harmful beliefs and practices. The horrific act serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat superstition and ensure the safety and well-being of children.
