Baby’s head, body found at different places

LUCKNOW: The head of a 4-monthold baby and the beheaded body of a child of similar age were recovered from different parts of the city on Wednesday morning.

The head, wrapped in a plastic bag, was found lying in an abandoned plot in Gudamba, while the body was recovered from Hasanganj, about 6km away.

Suspicions were raised about sorcery being a likely reason behind the killing as Tuesday night was ‘Bhaunmati Amavasya’ (dark night falling on Tuesday). It is said that those who practise ‘tantra mantra’ (black magic) consider this night apt for human sacrifice for fulfilment of wishes.

“We are trying to verify whether the head and the body are of the same child. Sorcery as a reason can’t be ruled out and we are further probing the matter,” said Raj Kumar Singh, inspector of Gudamba police station.

The inspector said that people noticed that something was amiss when a few stray dogs started pulling at the bag and foul smell started emanating from it.

They immediately informed the police.

In Hasanganj, the body was found near a ground that is used as a graveyard.

The police are questioning the locals to find out if they had spotted anybody entering or leaving the graveyard on Tuesday night.

UV Singh, inspector of Hasanganj police station, said, “The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and doctors have been asked to preserve samples from the body and the head for DNA examination. This will help us find if the head and the (beheaded) body, recovered from different spots, belonged to the same child.”