<p>Nine people have been arrested for the death of a five-year-old girl, who was used for witchcraft in the pursuit of a hidden treasure at Hosalli village in the taluk on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Fourteen people are involved in the case, including a sorcerer who is absconding, P Raja, district Superintendent of Police, said at a press conference. <br /><br />It is said that one of the accused lured the girl, Gayatri, daughter of hotelier Sharanabasappa, with chocolates, on the night of January 26. A case was registered at Munirabad police station on January 28. <br /><br />The girl was kept in the house of Mahendra Reddy, a worker in the farm of Shantilal, on the farm premises at Hosalli. Shantilal is a resident of Hosapete in Ballari district.<br /><br />On the night of February 3, poojas were performed and the blood from Gayatri’s finger was poured as a sacrificial offering during the homa. <br /><br />This was done to ‘appease’ two dead bodies said to have been buried on both sides of a treasure box, containing Rs eight crore, buried in the ground. <br /><br />The girl died due to lack of proper food and care. The suspects dumped the body in the toilet of the house of Anita, a neighbour, so as to escape being caught.<br /><br />The Superintendent of Police said that the exact cause of the girl’s death could be ascertained only after getting the post mortem report. <br /><br />A car, mobile phone and various articles used for witchcraft have been recovered by the police from the suspects.<br /><br />Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajeev led the operation to nab the suspects. Circle Inspector Satish Patel of the Rural police station, sub-inspectors Vishwanath and Anjaneya formed part of the team.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Nine people have been arrested for the death of a five-year-old girl, who was used for witchcraft in the pursuit of a hidden treasure at Hosalli village in the taluk on Tuesday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Fourteen people are involved in the case, including a sorcerer who is absconding, P Raja, district Superintendent of Police, said at a press conference. <br /><br />It is said that one of the accused lured the girl, Gayatri, daughter of hotelier Sharanabasappa, with chocolates, on the night of January 26. A case was registered at Munirabad police station on January 28. <br /><br />The girl was kept in the house of Mahendra Reddy, a worker in the farm of Shantilal, on the farm premises at Hosalli. Shantilal is a resident of Hosapete in Ballari district.<br /><br />On the night of February 3, poojas were performed and the blood from Gayatri’s finger was poured as a sacrificial offering during the homa. <br /><br />This was done to ‘appease’ two dead bodies said to have been buried on both sides of a treasure box, containing Rs eight crore, buried in the ground. <br /><br />The girl died due to lack of proper food and care. The suspects dumped the body in the toilet of the house of Anita, a neighbour, so as to escape being caught.<br /><br />The Superintendent of Police said that the exact cause of the girl’s death could be ascertained only after getting the post mortem report. <br /><br />A car, mobile phone and various articles used for witchcraft have been recovered by the police from the suspects.<br /><br />Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajeev led the operation to nab the suspects. Circle Inspector Satish Patel of the Rural police station, sub-inspectors Vishwanath and Anjaneya formed part of the team.<br /><br /><br /></p>
