Quest for hidden treasure: Youth tries to give father as human sacrifice in Odisha

Police on Saturday arrested a youth on the charges of attempting to kill his father as human sacrifice in the belief that he will find hidden treasure. The shocking incident has been reported from Belpada area in Kalahandi district.

The accused youth, identified as Lingaraj Majhi, has been arrested along with a priest Chitrasen Rana. Both Majhi and Rana were arrested following timely intervention of police.

Earlier, a group of local villagers had tipped local officials at the Kalampur police outpost after they saw Majhi forcing his father to wear a white cloth. The accused had also made a garland using garlic and flowers and had kept several digging articles ready for the puja, sources said.

High drama unfolded after the accused locked the priest and himself inside the house. He also allegedly attacked a 'Gramrakhi' with the help of an axe. The Gramrakhi sustained injury on his hand.

“The accused had made a garland using garlic and some flowers on the instruction of the priest. On seeing villagers gathering, the accused had locked himself up in the house. He also attacked a Gramrakhi,” said Dharmagad SDPO, Dhiraj Kumar Chopdar.

According to the SDPO, Majhi is mentally unstable and there was no improvement in his condition despite treatment.