Villagers suspect woman of sacrificing girl for black magic, beat her to death

The Dahanu Road police arrested five persons on Monday for allegedly killing a woman, Gangubai Wartha, 45, a resident of Kankarali Pada, Dahanu, suspecting her role in the supposed human sacrifice of a nine-year-old girl of the village six months ago.

The arrested accused are Haresh Dhapsi, 35, his wife, Sonu Dhapsi, 30, Kamal Dhapsi, 50, Puni Salkar, 30 and Navin Sesarda, 28, all residents of Kankarli Dongri Pada, Dahanu. Police said six months ago, Navin Sesarda’s daughter, Sonu, 9, went missing from the village. Her skeleton was recovered, draped in garlands, some days later from Kankarali Hill. The buzz was that Gangubai was a practitioner of black magic and so, she became the prime suspect. A case was registered against her. Arrested by the Dahanu police, she was later released on bail by the court in the absence of any cogent evidence.

Navin, however, was convinced that Gangubai was the murderer and plotted to kill her. Having taken his associates into confidence, the five dragged Gangubai and her husband, Dattu, to Kankarali Hill on Monday and bashed them up, fatally wounding the woman. Police admitted Dattu and Gangubai to Cottage Hospital in Dahanu, where Gangubai succumbed to grievous injuries. Dattu is in a critical state, police said.

Senior inspector of Dahanu Road police station, Shrikant Pingle, said, “We have registered a case of murder against the arrested accused and are probing the matter further.”

DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication