A horrific incident has emerged from Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh, where a three-year-old innocent child was allegedly sacrificed due to superstitious beliefs. A Baiga (traditional healer/sorcerer) has been arrested for reportedly sacrificing Ajay Nagesia, a three-year-old boy, in a twisted attempt to cure his own son’s epilepsy. The heinous crime came to light during the investigation of the child’s disappearance, which had been ongoing for over a year. According to police, the accused Baiga, identified as Raju Korwa, divulged details of the incident while under the influence of alcohol, leading to the matter being reported to the authorities. Police interrogation revealed that Raju Korwa had kidnapped the innocent child from the village and performed the sacrifice to alleviate his son’s illness. The accused had then disposed of the child’s head and torso in separate locations. This tragic event starkly shows the alarming persistence of superstition in the state, where, even in the 21st century, individuals resort to harmful practices like exorcism, tantra-mantra, and human sacrifice.

 

This is not an isolated incident in Chhattisgarh; previous reports of human sacrifice have emerged from various tribal areas of the state. Experts and social organizations strongly advocate for the expansion of modern medical facilities, public awareness campaigns, and the promotion of scientific thinking in rural and tribal regions to combat such cruel and inhuman acts. Dr Dinesh Mishra, President of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, who has tirelessly campaigned against superstition for years, commented on the recent incident. Dr Dinesh Mishra stated that the case near Samari in Balrampur, involving Raju Korwa sacrificing 3-year-old Ajay on a Baiga’s advice, is deeply saddening.

 

He recalled previous incidents, including a case where Kamlesh Nagesia of Balrampur district sacrificed his 4-year-old child, and another during Navratri in Korea district where a child named Dhaneshwar was killed by relatives due to similar beliefs. Dr Mishra urged rural communities not to fall prey to superstition and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. The incident raises critical questions about the administrative, health, and social structures in the state. Advocates argue that readily available and accessible treatment facilities could potentially have saved the innocent child’s life. There is also a pressing need for the government to vigilantly monitor quacks and self-proclaimed Baigas and Gunias (traditional healers often associated with superstitious practices) in every region.