Sullia: Human sacrifice - Infant's body exhumed; police find her chain
Updated
Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (EP)
Sullia, Dec 4: The body of Sharika, the one-and-a-half-year old child who was suspected to have been a victim of human sacrifice, was exhumed on Tuesday December 3 and sent for a second post-mortem.
Under the guidance of Puttur assistant commissioner Krishnamurthy, a team led by Dr Mahabaleshwara Rao of Mangalore's K S Hegde Pharmacy Lab examined the spot where she was buried and removed the body.
They also visited the spot where she had been found dead and conducted inspection. The child's head and a hand were missing when the body had been found, and hence a canine squad was pressed into action to find the missing body parts.
During the search, the police found a chain about 20 metres away from spot where the body was found. The chain had been worn by the child around her neck.
Puttut AC Krishnamurthy said that the second post-mortem of the child was being conducted on the request of her mother Bhavani. Though the police had closed the case stating that the child had died of drowning, the mother suspected that her daughter had been sacrificed as her body was found distorted. "The body has been sent to Mangalore for re-examination. Once the report is out, the cause of the death will be determined," said Krishnamurthy.
Taluk health officer Dr Subramanya M R, Sullia community centre health officer Dr Bhanumati, block education officer Malleswami, CDPO Narayana Neerabidire, deceased child's mother Bhavani, father Mohandas, gram panchayat president Pramila Sridhar and others were present.
Earlier Report: December 3
Human sacrifice: Infant's body to be exhumed for second post-mortem
Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (EP)
Sullia, Dec 3: In view of suspicions that Sharika, an infant from Charmata near Nadugallu was offered as human sacrifice for a hidden treasure, the parents and the locals led by Kemar Esha Vittalsada Swamiji had urged to re-investigate the case. Accordingly, Sullia tahsildar decided to go for second post-mortem of the body on the directions of Puttur assistant commissioner.
The body of the infant will be exhumed on December 3 for second post-mortem. The infant, daughter of Charmata residents Mohandas and Bhavani had gone missing on August 11 this year while playing in the verandah.
The body was found after 11 days without head and right hand, and in a sleeping position on a tree branch. Half the body was decomposed. The police had subjected the body to a postmortem and had concluded that the baby had died by drowning and suffocating in the water and closed the case. As the baby was found without head and right hand, there was strong suspicion among people that the infant might have been sacrificed.
Based on the complaint by Bhavani, mother of the infant and consequent to pressure from other quarters including Kemar Swamiji who had personally met the SP and submitted a memorandum to reopen the case, security was deployed at the spot where the body was buried and at the house of the parents. Sullia circle inspector Satish B S who decided on the second post-mortem, sent his petition to the assistant commissioner.
As the assistant commissioner sent his orders to the Sullia tahsildar to go ahead with the second post-mortem, the body will be exhumed on December 3.