8-Year-Old Girl Found Dead With Eyes Gouged Out Was Sacrificed To Avoid Miscarriage

An 8-year-old girl was reportedly "sacrificed" to avoid a miscarriage of an expectant mother. The child’s body was found with her eyes gouged out in the Munger district of Bihar, India on Aug. 6.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to probe the death, on Monday, Aug. 9, arrested four suspects for their involvement in the child’s death.

According to the SIT - constituted by Munger Superintendent of Police, J J Reddy, one of the suspects, identified as Dilip Kumar, a resident of Padham village, was advised by a sorcerer to sacrifice a virgin to avoid the miscarriage of his pregnant wife.

"Dilip’s wife had conceived after many unsuccessful years of pregnancy. Hence, he acted on the suggestion of the Tantrik from neighboring Khagaria district, which led to the gruesome killing of the minor girl," the Times of India quoted the SP as saying.

During the probe, the investigators learned that Dilip had consulted his co-resident, Tanveer Alam, who introduced him to the sorcerer, identified as Pervez Alam.

The sorcerer advised that the pregnant woman should wear an amulet consecrated with blood and the eyes of a virgin girl to avoid a miscarriage.

Tanveer took the help of his associate, identified as Dasarath, who made arrangements to perform the ritual at his poultry farm.

The minor victim was abducted while she was returning home alone after delivering food to her father, a fisherman.

The child was taken to the poultry farm where the sorcerer performed the rituals, during which he killed the girl and gouged out her eyes.

The sorcerer then made an amulet which the pregnant woman wore around her neck, SHO of Safiabad police outpost Gaurav Kumar said

The police began an investigation after the child’s body was discovered and based on evidence arrested Dilip, Tanveer, and Dasarath. The sorcerer was arrested after the suspects confessed to the crime.

"The police cracked the case based on evidence," recovered from the crime scene, the SP said.

Initially, the police had registered a case of murder and suspected rape after finding injuries on the girl’s private parts.

"Instructions have been issued to submit the charge sheet in the case at the earliest," the SP said. The officer said the case would be listed for a speedy trial.