Daijiworld Media Network - Yadagiri (SP)

Yadagiri, Oct 18: The police, who were investigating the recovery of the lifeless body of a year-old female baby sometime back at Budhihal village of Shahapur taluk in the district, have stumbled upon a surprising information. They have found that the grandfather of the child had killed the baby. The man said he had given her in sacrifice to appease a spirit in connivance with the wishes of a sorcerer with the hope of getting access to hidden treasure.

The old man, who is addicted to gambling, has confessed that he wanted to become ultra rich overnight, and worked as per the advice of the sorcerer in giving his granddaughter in sacrifice as part of witchcraft. The police have arrested both the grandfather and the sorcerer. They have been identified as Rachayyaswamy Hiremath, and Hanamanth Jogi.

A girl child was found to have been smothered to death and tossed into a well on October 4.

The police, during their investigation, had found items like turmeric powder, vermilion, rice, scented sticks etc behind the house of the man, which are telltale signs of witchcraft. Grandmother of the child, Neelamma, had thereafter filed complaint in Vadagera police station, alleging that her granddaughter had been killed by someone for witchcraft with an eye on secret treasure.

The police had then questioned members of the girl's family. During the questioning, grandather, Rachayyaswamy, confessed to the crime. He reportedly told the police that he has been driven by the urge to get involved with gambling and needed money urgently. "I got introduced to Hanamanth Jogi, who said he knows witchcraft, and who hails from Konkal village in the district. Lured by him and getting convinced by his words, I performed puja, and smothered my granddaughter and threw her body into the well," he revealed to the police.