PATNA: Bihar Police have launched a manhunt for a black magic tantrik who allegedly beheaded a 65-year-old man and burnt his body in a ‘Holika Dahan’ fire as part of rituals in Bihar’s Aurangabad district. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The horrific crime came to light when police recovered bones and a skeleton belonging to the deceased, identified as Yugal Yadav, a resident of Gulab Bigha village. His family had reported him missing on 13 March after failing to trace him.
Aurangabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Ambarish Rahul said a special investigation team (SIT) was formed to locate Yadav. During the probe, officers learned that human bones and a skeleton had been found in the ashes of a ‘Holika Dahan’ fire in neighbouring Bangar village.
The police immediately swung into action and detained four suspects from the village for questioning. Investigating officers were taken aback when they found human remains at the site where the ‘Holika Dahan’ had been performed before the Holi festival.
A dog squad was deployed, leading officers to the house of Ramashish Rikyasan, a village tantrik known for practising black magic. While Ramashish was not found at home, his close relative Dharmendra was taken into custody for interrogation.
Dharmendra initially tried to mislead investigators with conflicting statements about Ramashish’s whereabouts. However, he later broke down and confessed that he, along with others, had kidnapped the victim for black magic rituals.
He revealed that the victim’s torso was burnt in the ‘Holika Dahan’ fire to destroy evidence. Based on Dharmendra’s confession, the police recovered the victim’s severed head from a nearby agricultural field, the SP added.
During the investigation, it emerged that Ramashish had performed the ritual on behalf of Sudhir Paswan, who was seeking divine blessings for a child. Dharmendra also admitted that the group had previously sacrificed a teenager, whose body was dumped in a well in the same locality.
Police said four individuals, including Dharmendra and Sudhir Paswan, have been arrested in connection with the incident. A minor boy has also been taken into custody for questioning.