Two arrested for suspected human sacrifice in Challakere village

CHITRADURGA: Two people, including an astrologer from Pavagada in Tumakuru district, have been arrested in a case of suspected human sacrifice at the J J Colony at Parashurampura in Challakere taluk. The suspected human sacrifice was reportedly carried out in search of a hidden treasure.

The arrested astrologer Ramakrishna (top), Ananda Reddy (below) and the victim Srinivas (right).

On February 9, Prabhakar (52), a labourer and resident of the Dalit colony at Parashurampura was killed, allegedly as a human sacrifice in the hunt for a treasure, shocking the entire village. Two days later, the Parashurampura police arrested Ramakrishna, an astrologer from Kotagudda village in Pavagada taluk, and Ananda Reddy, a resident of Kundurpi village in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

According to police sources, the treasure hunters had killed another man prior to Prabhakar’s murder. As per the astrologer, five people had to be sacrificed to secure the treasure, the arrested Ananda Reddy is learnt to have confessed to the police.

Signs of occult practices were found outside the village.

Astrologer Ramakrishna had suggested making five human sacrifices in the westerly direction to secure the hidden treasure. Added to this, signs of occult practices were also found around the village.

Villagers fear to step out of their houses.

The revelations have created such a fear in the village that residents fear to step out of their homes. Women are refusing to go to the fields and children are hesitant to attend schools. The villagers are now demanding the strictest punishment to the culprits, raise awareness and introduce night beat patrolling.