A 26-year-old man was found dead with his throat slit in south-east Delhi’s
Jaitpur on Monday. Locals raised suspicion of the victim being sacrificed during a religious ritual, but police denied it and are yet to make any arrest.

Police said Pankaj Kumar’s body was discovered near his house at Jaitpur Extension-II. He used to work as a daily wage labourer at a local tent house.

 “His throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon. We suspect that Pankaj was attacked over a personnel enmity,” a police official said.

Pankaj had left his home late on Sunday afternoon. His family approached police when he did not return till late night.

 “A passerby noticed Pankaj’s body lying in a pool of blood on Monday morning, and informed his family members and police,” the official added.

His body was handed over to family after a post-mortem at AIIMS.

Pankaj’s body was found with a tilak on his head and few lemons strewn around, due to which locals alleged human sacrifice. Police, however, ruled out any such possibility and said enmity could be a reason behind the killing.

Enmity suspected

“We don’t think there is any truth in speculations about the victim being made a sacrifice. There could be an enmity with someone that led to his murder,” the official added.

Local people said he was last seen around 5 pm on Sunday. Initial probe has also revealed that Pankaj was a drug addict. “It is possible that someone from his friends group killed him,” the official said.

A case of murder has been lodged with Jaitpur police station.