Hathras school director, teachers arrested for alleged 'human sacrifice' of class 2 student
Hathras: A Class 2 student was allegedly killed as part of a black magic ritual inside his school hostel in Hathras. The police have arrested five people, including the director and three teachers of D L Public School, Rasgawan, for their alleged involvement in the crime.
The deceased boy, whose body was found in the school director's car, is believed to have been ‘sacrificed’ for the school's purported success and glory, according to the police. The suspects in custody are school director Dinesh Baghel, his father Jashodhan Singh, and teachers Laxman Singh, Veerpal Singh, and Ramprakash Solanki.
Hathras Superintendent of Police Nipun Agarwal stated, "The child was killed as part of a ritual for the institution's success. We are investigating whether any additional individuals were involved in the incident."
Police reports suggest that the director's father, Jashodhan, practiced black magic and rituals. In the past, he had allegedly attempted to kill another child in a similar manner but failed.
The deceased was the son of Krishan Kushwaha, a software engineer based in Delhi. The school hostel, which houses around 600 students from Classes 1 to 5, became the scene of the tragic crime earlier this week.
On Monday morning, the boy was found unresponsive in his hostel bed by staff and other students. Instead of reporting the matter, Baghel reportedly attempted to cover up the crime by placing the child’s body in his car and driving to Agra and Aligarh for several hours. The boy's family, upon being informed that their child was “unwell,” reached the school but could not locate him.
Suspecting foul play, Kushwaha informed the local police, which led to a manhunt for Baghel. The boy’s body, bearing strangulation marks, was eventually found in Baghel’s vehicle after the family raised an alarm. An autopsy confirmed that the child had been strangled on Sunday night.
A case of murder under relevant sections has been registered against the accused, and further investigation is underway.
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
