New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) Aditya Prasad, a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand, condemned the ritualistic murder of a 13-year-old girl in Hazaribagh district, labeling it a profoundly tragic and shocking event that highlights the alarming endurance of superstition and black magic within the state.

This horrific case surfaced in Kusumbha village, located under the jurisdiction of the Bishnugarh police station, where the minor girl was reportedly strangled by her mother on the night of March 24 as part of a human sacrifice ritual.

Authorities have detained the girl’s 35-year-old mother, Reshmi Devi, along with a 55-year-old occult practitioner, Shanti Devi, and another accomplice, Bhim Ram.

As per police reports, the mother, troubled by her youngest son’s mental and physical conditions, was in frequent consultation with the tantrik, who allegedly recommended that sacrificing a “virgin girl” would remedy her son's ailments.

In his remarks on the incident, Aditya Prasad characterized it as a chilling instance of blind faith resulting in heinous crime. He drew comparisons with a previous case in which a mother, in collaboration with her lover, sacrificed her child, inciting widespread public outrage and protests that ultimately led to a swift resolution of that case.

The BJP leader sharply criticized the JMM-led Hemant Soren government for its perceived inaction in combating such superstitious and barbaric practices.

“Despite recurring instances of human sacrifice and witch hunts in Jharkhand, the state government is displaying a lack of serious intent or political will to eradicate these archaic practices,” Prasad stated.

He accused the ruling coalition of being indifferent to the safety and welfare of women and children, especially in rural and tribal regions where superstition often prevails.

“The government must initiate a comprehensive awareness campaign, rigorously enforce anti-superstition legislation, and impose severe penalties on individuals promoting black magic and ritual killings,” he demanded.

Jharkhand has been struggling with witch-hunting and ritual sacrifices for years, with multiple districts reporting such crimes regularly.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has already established a committee to investigate the latest incident, while local police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Aditya Prasad urged the state authorities to approach this case with utmost seriousness, ensuring it serves as a pivotal moment in the battle against blind faith and ritual violence in Jharkhand.