Class 2 boy killed in U.P. as sacrifice for ‘school’s prosperity’; five held

The police said the incident took place at DL Public School when owner Jasodhan Singh, who is said to believe in ‘tantrik’ rituals

A student of Class 2 was killed as part of an alleged “sacrificial ritual” performed by the owners of his school in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district to make it more “prosperous”, State police said on Friday (September 27, 2024).

Police said the incident took place at DL Public School, when owner Jasodhan Singh, who is said to believe in ‘tantrik’ rituals, asked his son Dinesh Baghel, the school’s director, to sacrifice a child for the “prosperity” of the school and his family. The school had a low number of students enrolled in the classes, and Mr. Singh had also taken a loan for starting the residential school, which is located in Rasgwan village in the Sahapau area of the district.

Besides the owner and director of the school, the principal and two teachers identified as Laxman Singh, Ramprakash Solanki and Veerpal Singh, respectively, were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing that took place on September 23, they said. A murder case has also been registered.

According to the police, the post-mortem report of the child, identified as Kritarth, revealed that he was strangled to death.

Hathras Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ashok Kumar Singh said that on September 23, the student was abducted from the school’s hostel by Ramprakash Solanki, Dinesh Baghel, and Jasodhan Singh.

They took the student to a secluded place for the sacrifice, but the student woke up and began crying, the officer said, adding that they strangulated him in a hurried manner. “Another teacher, Veerpal Singh and school principal, Laxman Singh, were also present at the spot and were guarding the place,” he said.

The police said the child lived in the school’s hostel that is located inside the school premises. Basic Education Officer (Hathras) Swati Bharti issued an order to shut the school and issued an order for an inquiry into the matter, following which, a case will also be registered with the police on the alleged negligence. She said the school ran without permission for Classes 1 to 8 and that the hostel was running illegally.

Before the incident, there was a plan to sacrifice another child on September 6, but it failed after that boy raised an alarm when he was being strangulated. When the boy underwent a medical examination later, it was found that an attempt was made to strangle him.

In their investigation, police found puja materials, a rope, religious photos, and a key from a room in a school premises near the tubewell installed behind the school, confirming that black magic was being practised.

The child’s father, Krishan Kushwaha said that he got a call from Mr. Baghel around 5 a.m. when he was told that his son’s medical condition was deteriorating and that he should visit him. “Quickly, I left for the school, but midway, they told me they’re taking him to Sadabad for medical treatment, and I went towards Sadabad. Later, they told me they’re taking him to Agra. I got suspicious and began following them. I made multiple calls but they never stopped,” Mr. Kushwaha said.

“I kept chasing them and they finally stopped in Sadabad. When I forcibly intervened, I saw my son’s body inside Baghel’s car. He even confessed to the crime. I want the case to get investigated further. Everybody involved in this murder conspiracy needs to be held,” Mr. Kushwaha added.

Meanwhile, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanungo took cognisance of the matter and said a team of the child rights body will visit the place under the leadership of the State Governor. The NCPCR will probe the incident and a report will be submitted, he said. “Prima facie, it appears that rules were broken, guidelines of Governement of India were not followed...” he added.

Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) chairperson Devendra Sharma called it a heinous incident and assured that action will be taken in this matter. “I have taken cognisance of the matter and will verify all the facts. The child was killed due to superstitions, and children are not safe in such environments,” he said.

In the aftermath of the shocking incident, a political slugfest broke out with U.P. Congress chief Ajay Rai saying: “There have been incidents of rape with minor girls, sacrifices being offered, murders and fake encounters. There is jungle raj in the State. This is a cruel incident which cannot be condemned enough. What will they do in J&K when they cannot even handle Uttar Pradesh?”

Samajwadi Party leader Sunil Singh Yadav said: “Society has advanced so much, technology has arrived, people are getting educated, the world has become very small, everyone is connected to each other, and we know what’s happening around the globe. Yet, if practices like witchcraft, superstition, and sacrifices still exist, strict action should be taken against them...”

Published - September 27, 2024 01:32 pm IST