, with police saying that the two victims were dismembered and their bodies cut into several pieces as part of a “black magic ‘sacrifice”.
Cops also suspect the accused – a couple and another man – may have even consumed the body parts after the murder. Both the victims were engaged in selling lottery tickets on the streets.
All three accused sent to 14-day judicial custody
A judicial first-class magistrate court in Ernakulam in Kerala remanded the three accused persons — Mohammed Shafi alias Rasheed, Bhagaval Singh, his wife Laila — into judicial custody for 14 days. Shafi is the first accused in the case and Singh and Laila are second and third accused, respectively. They have been charged with criminal conspiracy, abduction, murder and destruction of evidence.
Shafi – The main conspirator
The remand report said that Shafi was the main conspirator in the case who designed and executed the killings of two women Rosly, 49, and Padmam, 52, who had been missing, for appeasing the goddess for financial prosperity. The police said that Shafi lured the two victims to Singh’s house in Elanthoor offering money for sex work and later the trio tied them down, tortured and killed them. As per the report, Laila killed Rosly by beheading her while Shafi stabbed Padmam. The report said that Rosly’s breasts were chopped off by Singh after killing her. The bodies were later cut into several pieces and buried in the pits, which were dug out prior to the killings, in the premises of Singh’s house.
Where is Kerala headed, asks high court
The Kerala high court expressed shock and disbelief at the alleged human sacrifices in Kerala and asked where the state is headed. During the afternoon session of the court, Justice Devan Ramachandran said, “The fact that we are hearing about human sacrifice in Kerala is beyond shocking.” “Some of the things happening here are beyond the limits of absurdity. Today it is human sacrifice. I wonder where Kerala is going. I went to the chambers for lunch and heard about this human sacrifice case. Is this Kerala now?” Justice Devan said.
Remand report reveals gory details
“Scientific investigation led us to Pathanamthitta. There’s a possibility that the accused ate parts of body after killing the victims. It is being investigated, but not confirmed yet. We are investigating whether there are more accused and if more such cases happened,” Nagaraju said. Earlier, Nagaraju said the details of the murders were so gory that they cannot be described.
Only a sick mind can do such a thing, says Kerala CM
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the two murders have shaken human conscience. Vijayan said that only those who have a sick mind can indulge in such activities and such customs can only be seen as a challenge to a civilized society. “Killing people for satisfying superstitious beliefs and acquiring wealth is something unimaginable for the state’s society. Along with legal action, societal caution also has to be exercised. Each one of us should come forward and realize the facts about such trends and bring them to the notice of civil society,” he said, adding that a foolproof investigation is progressing and all those who were involved in the crime will be brought to book.
Accused was arrested in 2020 rape case
It was not the first time Muhammed Shafi alias Rashid (52) had committed a heinous crime. In 2020, he brutally raped a 75-year-old woman at Puthencruz and the police arrested him. The woman was hospitalized and ended up in the ICU; later she returned to normal life after several days of treatment. When this incident occurred, Shafi was working as a truck driver.