A horrific incident came to light after a 4-year-old girl was allegedly hacked to death with an axe in front of her mother in Gujarat's Chhota Udepur district. Police suspected the case of human sacrifice. The incident occurred at Panej village in Bodeli taluka of Chhota Udepur district, where a woman reported her daughter being attacked and killed by her neighbour Lala Bhai Tadvi, said Gaurav Agarwal, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
The police said that the girl's blood was spread on the stairs of the temple of the accused house after killing her. "The victim's blood was poured on the stairs of his temple, suggesting it could be a human sacrifice."
Police arrested Lala Bhai Tadvi (42) for the killing of Rita Tadvi, who died on the spot, reported TOI. "The accused has been taken into custody and is being questioned about his motives, whether someone else was involved, if he had a dispute... Police are now collecting information," said ASP Agarwal to news agency ANI.
At the time of the crime, the victim's mother, Jyoti, was walking across a lane near her house with her one-year-old son while Rita was right behind her. At around 8.30 am a neighbour Lalo came from behind and suddenly picked her up. Jyoti ran after him as he walked into his house with Rita.
The mother screamed for help and chased the accused Lalo. Two neighbours heard her scream and rushed to help. Lalo entered his house and put the girl on the floor. As Jyoti tried to enter, Lalo took an axe and threatened to kill her, reported TOI.
Before Jyoti could do anything to save her daughter, Lalo cuts Rita's throat with the axe in front of her. The accused then went to another room and put Rita's blood on the stairs of a small temple. According to the Jyoti he offered the blood to appease a goddess.