In a spine-chilling incident, a priest allegedly convinced a 7-year-old girl and her parents to sacrifice her by making her sit on a pyre in Belgaum, Karnataka. The police reached the spot of the sacrifice in time and rescued the girl. The priest was arrested.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Belgaum, 500 kms from Bangalore. A 35-year-old man, who claims to be a saint, attempted to burn a 7-year-old alive. He allegedly promised the girl that with his powers he would ensure her rebirth on Shiv Ratri.

Based on a tip-off, the police raided the place - Jumjarawada - in Belgaum, just in time to see the pyre ready to sacrifice the girl.

The saint Appaiah admitted to have set the funeral pyre with the help of his 30-year-old devotee to perform the religious proceedings by setting her ablaze and giving her a new birth.

The victim had no knowledge of what was happening to her.

"My parents got me to this ashram. I was in that place for 20 days. I don't know anything," she said.

Police are investigating the case.

"We have registered a case. The investigation is on. Based on a tip-off, we raided that place at the nick of time," said Chandragupta, SP, Belgaum.

The girl is now under the care of Women and Child welfare department.