The Vadagera police have arrested a man on the charge of killing his 18-month-old granddaughter as a human sacrifice in his search for hidden treasure. The arrested, identified as Rachaiah Swamy, has confessed to strangulating the daughter of his son, and throwing the body into a well behind his house in Budinal village of Shahpur taluk on October 3, police said.
Rachaiah had performed witchcraft near the well, with the help of a person by name Hanumantha Jogi. Both left for some other village on October 3. But, Rachaiah returned late in the night and killed the child.
During the course of investigation, the police found that in the seven-member family, all except Rachaiah were consuming the rice available under public distribution system. Rachaiah was being served the food cooked with quality rice. The same rice was found near the place where witchcraft was performed.
Based on the clue, the police arrested Rachaiah and during interrogation, he spilled the beans, police said. The second accused in the case, Jogi, has also been arrested.