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Bengaluru: In a suspected case of human sacrifice, a woman allegedly tried to slaughter her married daughter before a temple deity in northeastern Bengaluru early Wednesday.
The daughter suffered grievous injuries to her neck. She is being treated at a private hospital, where her condition is critical, police said.
At around 4.30 am, Sarojamma (55) and her 25-year-old daughter Rekha arrived at Harihareshwara Temple at Agrahara Layout, off Thanisandra Main Road.
After praying, Sarojamma made Rekha sit down. Then, all of a sudden, she pulled out a machete and swung it at her neck, wounding her grievously.
Rekha's screams alerted passersby, who intervened and pulled Sarojamma away. Police arrived soon after and rushed the profusely bleeding Rekha to hospital.
"The incident has been captured on CCTV cameras. We are reviewing the footage. Both women had come to the temple together, and their behaviour appears strange," a police officer close to the investigation told DH.
While Sarojamma is reticent about the incident, police are waiting for Rekha's recovery to question her and piece together the incident.
Rekha lives with her husband Somashekar, a weaver by profession, in Anekal, while Sarojamma resides in Sampigehalli with her father, who is in his 80s.
Rekha often quarreled with her husband and returned to her mother. Both women had been performing special puja to address her marital problems.
Sarojamma had recently consulted an astrologer, who had suggested to perform a human sacrifice during a specific hour. "Police are trying to trace the astrologer and question him," the officer said.