PANAJI
A day after police sources had linked the shocking murder of a 4-year-old girl at Tisk-Usgao to “human sacrifice” following a confession reportedly from the accused couple, the police on Friday claimed there was no evidence of witchcraft in the case.
Instead, South Goa SP Tikam Singh Verma on Friday said the murder had taken place following a heated argument between the girl's mother and Pooja, one of the accused in the murder.
The 4-year-old girl, who had gone missing in Usgao on Wednesday, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by the accused, Babasaheb Alhat and his wife Pooja. The body was later buried inside their house, which is close to the girl’s house.
Police sources had initially stated that the childless couple believed in black magic and had reportedly admitted killing the child as part of a “human sacrifice” in the hope that the wife would conceive a child.
Addressing a news conference in Margao, SP Verma, said: “No evidence was found that the murder was caused by witchcraft. The police and a forensic team inspected the scene, but nothing of the kind was found.”
“There was a heated argument between the accused, Pooja, and the mother of the deceased girl. In rage, the accused woman lured the girl into her house, and when her husband arrived at the house, they killed the girl.”
A police statement stated that during the interrogation, Babasaheb disclosed the involvement in the crime and they both had killed child and buried inside their house.
The body was exhumed in the presence of a forensic team and the SDM/Dy Collector, Ponda, and the body was identified by the mother.
An autopsy performed at the South Goa District Hospital on Friday certified the cause of death as “Asphyxia as result of simultaneous compression of head, nostrils and mouth using blunt force in a child having few signs of immersion in water.” The body was later handed over to the family for final rites.
The accused, Babasaheb and Pooja Alhat, have been arrested on charges of murder and were remanded to six days in police custody by the JMFC Ponda.
Police had initially registered the case under Section 137(2) of BNS 2023 and Sec 8 of Goa Children’s Act and during the further investigation, Sections 103 (1) and 3(5) were adduced into the present crime. Investigation of the case is taken up by Ponda Police Inspector Vijaynath Kavlekar under the guidance of Ponda SDPO Shivram Vaingankar and overall supervision of SP (South) Tikam Singh Verma, IPS.
While Babasaheb (53) is a native of Vaizapur in Aurangabad-Maharashtra but has been residing in Goa since birth, Pooja is a native of Aniknagar, Miraj, Sangli-Maharashtra and has been staying in Goa since 2010.
The incident has shocked and angered people in Usgao, who have demanded severe punishment to the accused couple for the heinous act.
