2 held, minor detained for killing woman on tantrik advice

THANE: In a shocking twist to the murder of a daily wage labourer at a Kalwa underconstruction site last week, police found that the crime was committed by three Bihar residents, including two teenagers, allegedly on the behest of a tantrik who told them that sacrificing a woman and taking her ornaments would bring them prosperity.

On Saturday, Thane crime branch and Kalwa police arrested Vishwajit Singh (30) and Devraj Kumar (19), and detained a 17-year-old boy, and brought them to the city.

Police said the trio travelled 1,000km from their village near Patna to Kalwa, where they zeroed in on Shanti Chavan (37) in Samrat Ashok Nagar. Initial probe suggests that they tied her up and gagged her, and the 17-year-old slit her throat. They took four gold beads from her.

Based on CCTV footage analysis, the police tracked down the three accused from the crime scene to LTT and then to their village.