Hazaribag: Chatra police on Saturday arrested three people, including the aunt of an eight-year-old girl, for allegedly killing her in what investigators suspect was a crime linked to occult practices.Chatra SP Animesh Naithany said the case was solved within 24 hours of the recovery of the body. The accused were identified as Sohri Devi (35), the victim’s aunt, Bindu Bharti (32), and Jugesh Bharti (27). All three were produced before a local court and sent to judicial custody.The case surfaced after Sitabiya Devi of Chatti Anantpur village, under Pratappur police station limits, filed a missing complaint when her daughter disappeared on the night of Nov 8. Police formed an SIT led by Chatra SDPO Sunny Vardhan.The girl’s body was found on Friday evening (Nov 13) in bushes near a paddy field, about 150 metres from her house.Police said that Sohri practised faith healing and occult rituals at her home. Investigators suspect she and the two co-accused killed the child on ‘Amavasya’ in an alleged bid to gain occult powers. Police also said there was a dispute between the victim’s family and the accused.Police seized a bloodstained sickle, carving tool, iron chisel, broken bangles, earrings, bloodstained leaves and clothes, besides materials allegedly used in rituals.
