10-year-old boy sacrificed in Nepal, 9 arrested

In a suspected case of human sacrifice, a 10-year-old boy has been killed in Nepal by a man to “chase away the evil spirits” from the body of his ailing son, prompting police to arrest nine men in connection with the gory incident.

Police arrested nine people on charges of murdering Jivan Kohar, son of Shiv Sharan Kohar of Kudiya village in Nawalparasi district which borders India.

During police interrogation, the main accused Kodai Harijan confessed that he sacrificed the boy, son of his friend Kohar, by slitting his throat to chase away the evil spirits from the body of his ailing son.

He lured the boy by offering him some biscuits and promised to pay him Rs 50 later. The boy was taken to an isolated place with the help of neighbours. They performed a puja following which the boy was murdered to cure his 18-year-old son, Superintendent of Police Nal Prasad Upadhyaya said. Kodai gave Rs 50,000 to people who assisted him in the crime. He said he felt guilty now, but did it to cure his son.