A 35-year-old woman from Azamgarh died under suspicious circumstances during an occult ritual performed by a local tantrik. The incident took place on Sunday evening in Pahalwan Pur village, under the Kandharapur police station area, of Azamgarh District of Uttar Pradesh.
The woman, identified as Anuradha, had been married for 10 years but had no children. She visited a local tantrik named Chandu with her mother hoping to conceive after hearing claims that he could help women become mothers through spiritual means.
During the visit, the tantrik along with his associates claimed Anuradha was possessed by an evil spirit. The family claimed that in the course of the ritual, the tantrik and his helpers allegedly pulled her hair, forcefully pressed her neck and mouth and even made her drink dirty water from a drain and toilet.
Her mother, who was present at the spot, tried to stop them but was ignored. Soon after, Anuradha’s condition worsened, prompting the tantrik and his aides to take her to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead by around 9 PM. The group then fled the hospital, leaving the body behind.
The family brought Anuradha’s body back to the village and demanded strict action. Upon receiving the information, Kandharapur SHO K K Gupta and the City Circle Officer reached the spot.
The victim’s father, Baliram Yadav, told police that the tantrik had taken a Rs 1 lakh contract to help Anuradha conceive. He had already received Rs 22,000 as advance payment.
Police registered an FIR based on Baliram’s complaint, sent the body for post-mortem examination and launched an investigation in the incident.
Later, tantrik Chandu surrendered at the police station, however, authorities are still searching for his accomplices.
“In Pahalwan Pur village of Kandharapur area, Anuradha, daughter of Baliram Yadav, died under suspicious circumstances. Her father alleged that a local tantrik named Chandu, along with his wife and two others, strangled her to death under the guise of performing occult rituals. Based on the father’s complaint, an FIR has been registered and investigation is underway,” said SP City Madhuban Kumar Singh.
Anuradha was the eldest of three siblings. Locals said that Chandu had created a fake spiritual setup at his home, complete with small temples, bells and idols to attract followers. People from nearby areas often visited him for help. Some villagers also claimed that similar incidents had happened there in the past.