In a macabre reminder of how some sections of society refuse to come out of the dark ages, seven people were arrested for killing two toddlers of their own family, believing them to be possessed by evil spirits.
According to the Nallasopara police, residents of Oswal Nagar in Nallasopara informed them about some screams emanating from the house of one Sachalal Jasiwal (60) on Friday night. The neighbours said that the screams could be heard for a long time, but suddenly stopped in the early hours of Friday. A team of policemen was dispatched to look into the matter.
“On reaching the Jaiswal residence, our men found the bodies of two dead children. The other members of the family were trying to dispose of the bodies,” said Thane rural police superintendent Vishwas Nangre-Patil.
The dead children have been identified as Ritika (5) and Om (2), both children of Vishal and Rita Jaiswal.
The parents, along with Vishal’s father Sachalal, brothers Dinesh and Satish and their respective wives Sumitra and Dolly were taken to the police station for inquiries.
The Jaiswals were first questioned together and then separately. Initially, they claimed that the children had died mysteriously during the night. However, preliminary medical reports confirmed death due to strangling.
“We confronted them with the reports and also told them that several neighbours had heard screams throughout the night. Slowly, their attitudes and statements started crumbling,” said a police officer.
The Jaiswals, in their confession, said that the children used to fall ill frequently, and had been undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, Dolly, who is the eldest daughter-in-law and claims to have a lot of knowledge of the occult, said that the children were possessed by an evil spirit, and needed to be exorcised.
“Believing that the children were indeed inflicted by some spirit, the Jaiswals strangled both children to death. All the seven accused have been charged under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code,” Mr Nangre-Patil said.
A police officer added that the children did not die a quick death and were made to suffer a lot.
“At Dolly’s insistence, several of the accused even stood on the children’s bodies, trying to suffocate them. They were ultimately strangled to death,” the officer said.