Exorcist, who died in police custody, ate girl's kidney

Lucknow, Jun 15: An exorcist, who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly sacrificing a five-year-old girl in Barabanki district, removed and ate one of her kidneys, police said on Tuesday, June 14.

"Investigation into the death of Savita, whose body was recovered from a field on June 11 in Ghungter area (of Barabanki), has revealed that her kidney was taken out and eaten by exorcist Gaya Prasad," Special Director General of Police Brij Lal told reporters here.

Meanwhile, four personnel, including station officer, have been suspended after Prasad died on the way to a hospital after falling ill in police custody.

Savita came to attend a marriage function along with her family in Bhitokar on June 8 and went missing on the same night. "On June 11, her body was recovered with multiple injury marks on face, chest and abdomen and in post-mortem it was found that one of her kidneys was missing," the official said.

Anil, childless uncle of the girl, who had taken her to the occultist was also arrested on Tuesday. Lal said that the duo took Savita to a field, where they killed her and then Prasad removed the kidney and ate it.

"As it is the case of custodial death, four policemen, including station officer of Ghungter, have been suspended and a case was lodged on a complaint of Gaya's brother Ramesh," he said.

PTI