Crime Branch suspects human sacrifice in 2014 death of Elanthoor native

Pathanamthitta: The Crime Branch, currently investigating the human sacrifice murder case in Elanthoor, has raised suspicions that the 2014 death of a middle-aged woman in the same locality may also be connected to human sacrifice.

Sarojini, a middle-aged woman, was found brutally murdered in September 2014, a day after leaving for housekeeping work. 

Her body was found abandoned on the roadside, with lacerations all over her body. However, the police were unable to crack the case. 

Her body was located about 1.5 kilometres from the residence of Elanthoor murder case suspect Bhagawal Singh. Suspicions were raised about Sarojini's death after the Elanthoor murder case came to public attention. There were significant parallels between how the bodies were disposed off in both cases.

On Wednesday, Crime Branch officials questioned all three accused in the Elanthoor case at the Kakkanad jail. However, the officials are yet to release more information regarding the questioning. 

Muhammad Shafi (53), a Perumbavoor native, couple Bhagawal Singh (71) and his wife Laila (67) were questioned by a team led by Thiruvalla DySP Pradheek.