Assam: Five Held in 2019 Human Sacrifice Case Near Kamakhya Temple

GUWAHATI: The Assam Police Crime Branch has detained at least five people in relation to the alleged human sacrifice at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati in June 2019. 

The event took place in 2019 just before the Ambubachi Mela. Nine arrests have already been made altogether in the investigation, with three of them occurring recently. 

The victim, a woman, was identified and it was discovered that she had travelled by train to the temple and prayed before her tragic demise. The body of a woman without her head was discovered on June 19–20, 2019, according to the Guwahati Commissioner of Police.

During further inquiry, the city police found no information on the deceased but still claimed it was a murder case; as a result, a case was opened at the Jalukbari police station. 

A man named Suresh Shaw from the West Bengal Hooghly district came forward to Guwahati on July 28, 2019, claiming that his mother (Shanti Shaw), who attended the Ambubachi Mela, failed to return home. After the body was identified, the missing person case was closed, but police have not yet located the suspect in the case. 

Assam police established a specialised unit to follow such cases while analysing previous, open horrific cases. They proceeded to Cooch Bihar and raided the residence of Kailash Barmam, where they discovered a bag belonging to the victim, Shanti Shaw, along with the Aadhar card and the train ticket to Guwahati. 

Following the trail, Assam police arrived in Jabalpur to apprehend the tainted Sadhu from a temple. "Upon interrogation, it was found that one Sadhu used to stay at his residence, going by the name of Mata Prasad Pandey alias Mateshwar Giri, and kept the items," the CP added. 

Meanwhile, Suresh Paswan, Kanu Tantrik, Raju Baba alias Bhiaya Ram Mauriya, and Pradeep Pathak were detained by the Assam police based on Mata Prasad Pandey's allegation. 

The Sadhu further disclosed that Pradeep Pathak, a 52-year-old government worker from Varanasi living in Marthuri, was the mastermind behind the entire crime. 

The people who have been arrested are believed to be from West Bengal. In June 2019, they arrived, stayed for one day, and then left the next day. They might have taken part in the ritual of human sacrifice, according to sources. 

One of the most revered temples in India is the Kamakhya Temple, and the annual Ambubachi festival draws a large number of pilgrims.

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