Police have arrested nine people on charge of murdering Jivan Kohar, the son of Shiv Sharan Kohar of Kudiya-4. The incident site lies about 20km south of the East-West Highway. Kodai Harijan, 35, his brother Suryabhan Harijan, Bijay Harijan, shaman Ganga Harijan, neighbour Rudal Harijan and four others.

During police interrogation, Kodai admitted his involvement in the crime and said that he “sacrificed” the boy by slitting his throat to “chase away the evil spirits” from the body of his ailing son Bijaya. As induced by shaman Ganga, main accused Kodai took the son of his next door neighbour under control and murdered him to cure Bijaya, who reportedly demanded human sacrifice to exorcise evil spirits from his body. The victim was alone in his house as his family members had gone to their field.

The boy, who had gone missing since Tuesday, was found dead with his throat slit in a bush near Shiwan Temple on the bank of the Patera river on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Nal Prasad Upadhyaya said the victim was playing at his neighbour’s house when the perpetrators lured him away, offering a biscuit. He said Kodai provided Rs50,000 to Suryabhan, Ganga Harijan and Rudal Harijan to assist him in the crime.

“I offered the boy the biscuit and promised to give him Rs 50 later. I took him to Shiwan and called the shaman, Suryabhan and neighbour Rudal to assist me. The shaman performed a pooja. Rudal snatched the head and arms, Suryabhan grabbed the legs and I slit his throat with a sickle,” Kodai told the Post.

Kodai said that he now felt guilty but he did that all to cure his son, who often falls ill.