BENGALURU: The 10-year-old girl was sacrificed to counter witchcraft which was believed to have caused paralysis in Mohammed Vasil’s brother, according to police who interrogated the accused.
A police source said that Rafiq had suffered a stroke and was paralysed. Rafiq’s family contacted Vasil, who believed that Rafiq had suffered a stroke due to black magic cast on him and that he would die in the next 40 days if it was not countered.
The source said, “Vasil got in touch with Naseem Taj (33), an occultist, through his sister Rashidunnisa and the trio chalked out a plan for a human sacrifice. The gang’s initial plan was to abduct the child on February 24 when she was at her relatives’ house in Kempanahalli. The plan failed as Ayesha stayed in the house. She was then abducted on March 1.”
As family members searched for Ayesha, one of the accused remained with the child’s parents to pass on updates to other accused, said police.
Nurulla said, “Vasil had doubted my sister’s involvement. Police also called all family members for questioning before taking further steps.”
Nurulla said, “When police detained the juvenile, Vasil approached me saying he was disappointed with me for doubting his son. I had also thought it was wrong, but after seeing my daughter’s photos and messages in his phone, I realised that it was they who killed my child.”
Police said the suspicion around Vasil grew when the child’s body was found in a canal near his religious centre. A police source said, “The accused used materials that are otherwise used in Muslim weddings. They tortured her. Her eyeballs were removed and she was maimed. The girl was killed at Vasil’s religious centre and packed in a gunny bag.”
The family suspects she was killed for gain. Rehana said, “Vasil and Rafiq did not have a good relationship. They may have killed her for money.”