Balangir: In an alleged case of human sacrifice, a seven-year-old boy's tongue was slit and he was killed in Balangir district.
The victim was identified as Dasrath, son of Jalestry Parabhoi of Jhalipadar village, and his body was found floating in a pond in Gandhrabadh, a police officer said.
While police arrested Bankane Behera and Hrushikesh Dash, two other persons were detained by the police. Dash was a tantrik (black magician).
"Bankae Behera has confessed to having killed the child in order to ward off evil powers. He was suggested by a tantrik to sacrifice a child to get rid of evil power on him," said Dilip Kumar Purohit, SDPO, Titlagarh.
The boy was picked up by the accused persons while he was playing near his house on Friday. They took him to Chulifunka village nearby on the pretext of giving him snacks.
In between, at Gandhrabadh village, the four allegedly slit his tongue and tied up his hands before throwing him into a pond.
On Saturday morning, some villagers of Gandhrabadh found Dasrath's body floating in a pond and informed Bangomunda police.
Based on the statement of boy's mother, police nabbed the four persons.