Amethi Police Crack Brutal Murder Case: Failed Occult Treatment Leads to Merchant's Killing
Amethi police announced on Monday that they solved a brutal murder case. The victim was a cloth merchant from Pratapgarh. He claimed to treat serious health ailments through occult practices. Police said mounting anger over failed rituals caused the crime. The main accused's medical condition worsened during the treatment.
Victim Promised Cure Through Tantric Practices
The victim, Vijay Singh, was 40 years old. He lived in Chowk Bazaar in Pratapgarh. Vijay allegedly assured Rajan Sonkar, 25, from Chhota Goriyana locality in Jais, that he could cure his problem. Rajan suffered from blood discharge in urine. Vijay used tantric practices for the treatment.
Vijay charged ₹3,000 per sitting for the treatment. This continued for the last six months on a weekly basis. However, Rajan's condition did not improve. Instead, it deteriorated with heavy discharge and increasing discomfort. This triggered resentment and suspicion in Rajan.
Accused Conspired to Eliminate the Merchant
Amethi Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik provided details. Rajan became enraged over the failed treatment. He also faced financial loss and repeated demands for money. Rajan conspired with two aides to eliminate Vijay. A fourth accused assisted with logistics and concealment of evidence.
Police arrested all four individuals. Those arrested were identified as Rajan Sonkar, Saurabh Kumar (22), Pradeep alias Toofani (25), and Ajay (26). All are from Amethi district.
Gruesome Murder and Investigation
On January 7, Vijay received a call from Pratapgarh. The callers used a pretext of visiting Deva Sharif, a Sufi shrine in Barabanki. They arranged a hired car for the trip. Later, under another excuse, they asked Vijay to meet near a highway from his niece's residence.
Around 10 pm, the group left in the car. They diverted towards Rae Bareli instead. On the route, the group killed Vijay. They chopped his body into pieces and dumped them in different places.
The accused did not flee after the murder. They stayed at home and closely monitored the investigation. They believed the victim's multiple disputes would mislead investigators.
Police Crack Case Using Technical Evidence
Police cracked the case using call detail records, CCTV footage, and timeline matching. Rajan purchased a new phone and SIM to contact Vijay. He switched off the phone after the murder.
Based on technical evidence, police recovered crucial items. They found the severed head from a well. They also recovered the murder weapon, four mobile phones, the victim's clothes, bricks, and the car used in the crime.
The Superintendent of Police announced a cash reward of ₹25,000 for the police team. This reward recognized their efforts in solving the case.
