Couple sacrifices daughter to attain wealth

LUCKNOW - A poverty-stricken couple in an Uttar Pradesh village allegedly killed their four-year-old daughter after a self-proclaimed godman assured them that the act would attain them affluence, police said Wednesday.

Shri Krishna and his wife Rama Devi are absconding. The body of their daughter Kanni was recovered late Tuesday evening from their house in Sitapur district’s Dahelikushepa village, some 80 km from Lucknow.

“Investigations reveal it is a case of human sacrifice. Flowers, packets of sindoor (vermillion), incense sticks and other ‘puja’ items were recovered from near the girl’s body,” police inspector Rajveer Singh told reporters in Sitapur.

“The body, which was found buried in the courtyard, had multiple burn injuries. It appeared that the girl was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination,” he added.

The couple killed their daughter under the influence of a ‘tantrik’, Shiv Kumar, who too is absconding.

Villagers, who noticed Shiv Kumar entering the couple’s house Tuesday morning, informed the police after they heard Kanni’s screams.

“They managed to escape. The same ‘tantrik’ had also suggested other families to go for a child sacrifice in order to get rid of their poverty,” the police inspector said.

“Locals said Shri Krishna and his wife believed they would attain affluence overnight with the ways suggested by Shiv Kumar,” he added.