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Prayagraj: Man ‘kills relative’s grandson, chops up and scatters body parts — on tantrik’s advice’
The incident took place in Prayagraj’s Kareli on August 26. Police have arrested the man, Saran Singh (60), and the trantrik, Munna Lal (45)
The police claimed to have seized a motorcycle, two country-made pistols, and cartridges from their possession. (File)
A building contractor abducted and allegedly murdered his relative’s 17-year-old grandson, chopped up the body into nine parts, and scattered them at three locations — to remove an “evil cast” on his house.
The incident took place in Prayagraj’s Kareli on August 26. Police said the accused allegedly committed the act on a tantrik’s advice.
Police have arrested the contractor, Saran Singh (60), and the trantrik, Munna Lal (45). Police said Saran had approached the tantrik, seeking answers after his two adult children died by suicide. He believed the victim’s family had allegedly performed black magic at his house and blamed them for the two tragedies, police added.
On Lal’s advice, Saran kidnapped his relative’s grandson while he was returning from school and allegedly killed him.
Police arrested Lal from Kareli on Sunday while he was trying to change hideouts, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Prayagraj, Raj Kumar Meena. He added that Lal was produced in court on Monday, which sent him to judicial custody.
According to police, during questioning, Lal described himself as a tantrik who practiced occult rituals and black magic, in addition to working as a mason.
He told investigators that he first met Saran at the labour chauraha last year. He said Saran confided in him about the tragedies in his family.
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Saran told him his daughter had died by suicide in 2023, and his son died in 2024 after jumping into the Yamuna river. Convinced that the victim’s family had allegedly performed “witchcraft” that caused the deaths of his children, Saran sought Lal’s help.
Police said Lal told them he went to Saran’s house to “perform rituals” and allegedly advised him that the only way to lift the supposed curse was to kill the victim, mutilate the body, and scatter the parts in different directions.
Police said Lal convinced Saran that the spirit of the victim’s father — who died by suicide in 2009 — was in his house.
ACP Meena said Saran spent the past year planning the murder.
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Police said on August 26, as planned, Saran kidnapped the teenager, took him to his house, and allegedly strangled him.
When the teenager did not return home, his mother lodged a complaint at the Kareli police station. Police lodged an FIR.
During their search, police found a torso in a drain in an industrial area, but it could not be identified as the head was missing. Later, the head was also recovered, after which the family identified the body.
During the investigation, residents who lived around the area told police they had seen a man on a scooter dumping a bundle into the drain. When they shouted out, the man fled.
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Police checked footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area and identified the man — it was Saran. Police arrested him on August 28.
Police said during questioning, Saran admitted to killing the boy and dismembering the body. He also admitted that, driven by a sense of revenge, he had sought the advice of a tantrik.
He told investigators that he wrapped the torso in a cloth and dumped it. Police have yet to recover a few parts of the victim’s body
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