Cops sniff witchcraft in minors’ deaths

It’s been nearly 10 days since nine-year-old Nusrat Shaikh’s body was found at a shanty in Vatsalatai Nagar. But the clueless officers of the Nehru Nagar police station are still groping in the dark.

After conducting DNA tests and interrogating the locals, the police are now questioning tantriks (witch doctors), godmen and alternative medicine clinic owners in the area to check whether they were approached by any person who matched the suspect’s description.

According to sources, the police think the accused may be suffering from some disease or sexual complications and may have approached a godmen or tantrik for help.

“The police suspect that he may have been advised by someone practising black magic to have sexual intercourse with minor girls to get rid of his illness. Human sacrifice is not being ruled out as the three victims were killed after being raped,” a source said.

Also, records of pathology laboratories are being checked if any person suffering from some serious sexual ailment had visited them.

A police officer requesting anonymity said: “All possible measures are being taken. Our priority is to nab the accused at any cost.

There have been several cases where people have committed such heinous crimes believing that it would help them get rid of their illnesses or bring them luck and fortune.”

The officer added, “The accused seems to be mentally unstable or a psychopath.”

All drug addicts and vagabonds in Kurla East and West have been picked up for questioning and DNA tests have been conducted.

Police officers are now also seeking help from locals to nab the rapist-killer.