Accused in the Elanthoor human sacrifice case remanded in judicial custody

Muhammad Shafi, Bhagaval Singh and his wife Laila have been alleged to have entered into a conspiracy to commit human sacrifice for getting material prosperity for the couple

Accused in the suspected human sacrifice case being taken to jail after they were sent to judicial custody by a district court on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin

The three persons who were accused of committing human sacrifice, in Pathanamthitta, were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

The Kadavanthra police had produced Muhammad Shafi, Bhagaval Singh and his wife Laila before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court 8, Ernakulam, on Wednesday morning.

Accused in the Kerala human sacrifice case remanded in judicial custody

Details

It was on a complaint from Palani Amma, the sister of the deceased woman Padma, that the Kadavanthra police launched the investigation. Ms. Palani Amma had complained that Padma, who earned a living by selling lottery tickets, had gone missing since September 26, this year.

Investigations revealed that Shafi had taken her in a vehicle on September 26. The visuals of the accused taking the victim in a vehicle was obtained from the CCTV visuals, according to the remand report submitted by the police.

Victims (From left) Rosilyn and Padma, and the accused Bhagaval Singh (Right) who was arrested by the police | Photo Credit: PTI

On interrogation of the accused, it was revealed that the trio had murdered her at a house in Elanthur in Pathanamthitta district on the day. The accused had lured her after offering money to act in an adult movie, the report said.

Investigations also revealed that the accused had murdered another woman, Roslin, on June this year, according to the remand report.

The remains of the dead bodies of the two slain women were recovered from the house premise. 

Human sacrifice

The three accused entered into a conspiracy to commit human sacrifice for getting material prosperity for Singh and his wife. The accused had mutilated the body of the victims and sexually harassed them. The body parts were buried in the pits that were dug for the purpose, the remand report said.

The police had taken into custody the vehicle used for carrying the victim and the mobile phones used by the accused.

The custody of the accused was necessary for investigating the case further and to recover the belongings of the victims, the police submitted before the court.