The Chhath Puja is marred by an investigation by the police indicating that the 8-year-old girl was strangled to death by three relatives. Also, interrogations of the accused have revealed that this brutal murder of a child in Chatra has devastating consequences of superstition, alleged occult practices, and family hostility. What began as a missing-person search ended with the recovery of her body barely 150 metres from her home. The incident raises urgent questions about child protection, community vigilance and the need to confront beliefs that turn human lives into objects of ritual.

A MISSING CHILD, A TRAGIC DISCOVERY

The girl from Chatti Anantpur village under Pratappur police station limits went missing on November 8. After unsuccessful efforts to trace her, her mother, Sitabiya Devi, lodged a complaint on November 11. An investigation team led by SDPO Sunny Vardhan subsequently recovered the child's body from bushes adjoining a paddy field on November 13.

SUPERSTITION AND FAMILY ENMITY UNDER INVESTIGATION

According to Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithany, three relatives allegedly strangled the child on the night of Amavasya during a purported ritual intended to attain spiritual powers. The accused include her aunt, Sohri Devi, the aunt's husband's elder brother, Bindu Bharti, and his son, Jugesh Bharti. Police also suspect an existing family dispute may have contributed to the crime.

Investigators recovered bloodstained agricultural implements, broken bangles, the child's clothes, Palash leaves, vermilion, incense, perfume, rose water and other materials allegedly associated with the ritual. Police further alleged that the accused attempted to make the crime appear to involve sexual violence.

INVESTIGATION EXTENDS BEYOND THREE ARRESTS

All three accused have been arrested and sent into judicial custody. Police are also searching for a cleric from Bihar who allegedly trained them in the practices under investigation.

WHEN SUPERSTITION OVERRIDES HUMANITY

This tragedy demands more than arrests and prosecution. No belief, ritual or promise of supernatural power can justify violence against another human being. Protecting children requires informed communities, vigilance against exploitation in the name of occult practices, and firm enforcement of the law. The measure of a society's progress is its ability to protect its most vulnerable.

Source: https://dailypioneer.com/india/jharkhand-chatra-8-year-old-girl-killed-human-sacrifice-ritual-3-arrested#:~:text=8%2DYear%2DOld%20Girl%20allegedly%20killed%20by,days%20after%20she%20went%20missing.

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