Days after the headless body of a woman was recovered from a betel leaf grove in West Midnapore, the deceased has been identified as a resident of Baguihati in North-24 Parganas district. Following this, a tantrik was arrested on Tuesday on charges of murdering her.

Last Saturday, a nude body was found at a betel farm in Harashankar Garkhilla. While turmeric powder was found around the body, incense sticks and a bowl with a red cloth dipped in vermillion was also recovered by the police.

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The woman, missing since October 14, was identified as Parvati Sarkar — aged between 25 to 30 years. She used to stay with her husband in Baguihati in the same locality where accused Ramapada Manna (45) lived, said police, adding she was killed to offer human sacrifice. Manna, who also worked in a saloon in Baguihati, has been remanded to 10-days police custody.

Sarkar had reportedly approached him for help in solving family issues. He allegedly told her that she would have to come with him and perform a special puja in Tamluk. “In Tamluk, Manna first strangled her while performing a ritual and then cut her throat. We recovered the head from a roadside canal at Uttar Usodhpur village, which is about 1.5 km from the betel farm where the body was recovered,” said a police officer.

“But there was no way to identify her. It was only when Sarkar’s husband approached police following reports on the recovery of the body that we managed to solve the case,” he added.

Manna, who confessed to the crime, told police he sacrificed the woman to enhance his powers, said a police officer.

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