In a shocking incident that has sent ripples of horror through India, police have arrested five individuals in connection with the alleged ritual sacrifice of a seven-year-old boy at a public school. This tragic event, aimed at securing good fortune for the institution, occurred in Hathras, close to the iconic Taj Mahal.

Authorities discovered the boy’s lifeless body in the school’s hostel late Sunday night. Rather than reporting the tragedy, the school director, Dinesh Baghel, is accused of hiding the boy’s body in the trunk of his car.

According to police officer Himanshu Mathur, the child was killed just before a black magic ceremony, which was to be led by Baghel’s father, was set to begin. Both Baghel and his father, along with three teachers, are now in custody as investigations unfold.

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While the exact cause of the boy’s death remains unclear, his body is currently undergoing a post-mortem examination to gather more details.

This incident is a grim reminder of a disturbing trend in India. Between 2014 and 2021, the National Crime Records Bureau reported 103 cases of human sacrifice, often linked to attempts to appease deities. Such ritual killings are particularly prevalent in remote and tribal areas where beliefs in witchcraft and the occult continue to persist.