3 Men Die in Black Magic Ritual Promising Millions in Chhattisgarh's Korba District

At the scene, police recovered puja items, lemons, ropes, and cash

Korba:

What began as a pursuit for instant wealth transformed into a fatal tragedy reminiscent of a horror narrative. The allure of multiplying Rs 5 lakh into Rs 2.5 crore enticed three men into a perilous ritual that culminated in their mysterious deaths during an alleged black magic ceremony late Wednesday night in Chhattisgarh's Korba district.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ashraf Memon, a scrap dealer, Suresh Sahu from Tulsi Nagar, and Nitish Kumar from Durg. Their bodies were discovered in a room inside a scrapyard located in Barbaspur, within the Urga police station jurisdiction. All victims were reportedly between 40 and 45 years of age.

Despite occurring in the Urga police station area, the Civil Line police have assumed responsibility for the investigation.

According to police reports, the three men had consented to participate in a ritual conducted by Rajendra Kumar, a self-proclaimed tantric from Bilaspur, who asserted he could transform Rs 5 lakh into Rs 2.5 crore through occult practices.

Rajendra arrived in Korba on Wednesday evening accompanied by three associates. Authorities have detained four to five suspects thus far, including the alleged tantric.

The ritual commenced around 11 pm inside Ashraf Memon's farmhouse in Kudri village. Investigators revealed that the tantric escorted the three men individually into a separate room, provided them with lemons, created a circle on the floor using rope, and secured them inside, informing others that entry would be permitted after 30 to 60 minutes.

Upon unlocking the room, all three men were found deceased. Panic ensued, and while their companions rushed them to medical care, doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

Police recovered ritual items, lemons, ropes, and currency at the scene, strengthening suspicions of an occult ceremony gone awry.

Korba SP Siddharth Tiwari indicated that preliminary investigation suggests strangulation, noting injury marks and scratches observed by family members.

However, Korba CSP Bhushan Ekka, after examining the bodies at the hospital, stated that initial indications point toward poisoning. The definitive cause of death will only be established following post-mortem examination.

Authorities continue interrogating the detained suspects, and a comprehensive investigation is proceeding to determine whether the men were murdered during the ritual or succumbed to poisoning.

Despite the implementation of the Witchcraft Prevention Act in Chhattisgarh, crimes associated with occult beliefs remain disturbingly prevalent. From January 2020 to June 2024, 54 murders connected to superstition were documented in Chhattisgarh. Over 200 incidents of superstition-related violence occur yearly, according to state statistics. As per NCRB 2021, Chhattisgarh recorded the highest incidence of witchcraft cases (20) nationwide, followed by Madhya Pradesh (18). Between 2005 and 2017, approximately 1,350 cases related to witchcraft and superstition were registered in the state. The Chhattisgarh Witchcraft Atrocities (Prevention) Act, 2005, establishes penalties for promoting or practicing harmful superstitious activities.