35‑Year‑Old Mother Turns Occult, Teenage Daughter Killed in Ritual Sacrifice in Jharkhand

Police arrested three people, including the victim’s mother, after a teenage girl was strangled during a sacrificial ritual in Kusumbha village. The shocking case has drawn court attention and sparked political protests in Hazaribag.

Police in Jharkhand have arrested three people, including a 35‑year‑old mother, in connection with the killing of a teenage girl during a sacrificial ritual in Kusumbha village. Officials confirmed the arrests late Wednesday, naming the suspects as Reshmi Devi, the victim’s mother, 55‑year‑old occult practitioner Shanti Devi, and 40‑year‑old Bhim Ram.

Hazaribag SP Anjani Anjan and DIG Anjani Jha announced the arrests during a press briefing. Investigators said Reshmi Devi had been visiting a local ‘tantrik’ for treatment of her youngest son, who suffers from physical and mental ailments. The occultist allegedly told her that sacrificing a virgin girl would cure the boy.

Ritual Conducted During Festival Night

According to police, the killing took place on March 24, during Ashtami night when the village was engaged in Ram Navami celebrations. The girl was taken to Shanti Devi’s house, where she was strangled by her mother and Bhim Ram. Officers said the occultist inserted a wooden stick into the girl’s private parts, while Bhim Ram struck her head to collect blood for the ritual.

The trio then buried the body in a garden. Initially, the suspects tried to mislead investigators by claiming the girl had been raped, but postmortem and forensic reports did not confirm sexual assault.

Police further revealed that Bhim Ram is also accused in two other murders, including that of his sister‑in‑law.

Court And Political Response

The Jharkhand High Court took suo motu notice of the case on Monday after reviewing media reports. A division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad issued notices to the state administration and the police chief.

Earlier, the victim’s mother had claimed her daughter was abducted. The body was discovered on March 25 in a village field.

The incident has triggered political protests. The Opposition BJP staged a 12‑hour bandh in Hazaribag on Monday, demanding justice and accountability from the state government.