Human Sacrifice in India for the Peace of an Ascetic-Yogi's Soul

Five men have been arrested by law enforcement in India for carrying out a human sacrifice in 2019. They are accused of beheading a woman, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

64-year-old Shanti Shon was killed near the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, using a machete. This Indian temple is considered one of the main shrines for those practicing tantrism.

For about four years, the case remained unsolved as the body of the deceased could not be identified. Now, experts have been able to determine the woman's identity. According to the investigation, she was murdered by a group of five men led by 52-year-old Pradip Pathak from Madhya Pradesh. The man allegedly killed Shon to bring peace to the soul of his deceased brother, an ascetic-yogi, who passed away 11 years ago.

Shanti Shon had traveled to Guwahati to participate in a religious festival in July 2019. During the night of July 18 to 19, the men lured her into several rituals. During one of these rituals, she was laid on the ground and beheaded. Her head was wrapped in plastic and thrown into the Brahmaputra River. Five individuals directly participated in the murder, while eleven were involved in the preceding rituals.

As a result, officials were able to identify the deceased through clothing, tattoos, and other specific remnants. The organizer of the crime was arrested on March 25. He had paid each participant in the ritual 10,000 rupees (about $122). Police are searching for other suspects who are currently at large.