Yavatmal: A routine night patrol led cops to uncover a superstition-driven treasure hunt in Vadgaon jungle, with 6 persons arrested during a late-night operation near Karegaon on Saturday.Acting on heightened surveillance amid a spate of motor pump thefts, a team led by Station House Officer Vikas Dande noticed a suspiciously parked vehicle on the Varud–Karegaon road around midnight. A search of the vehicle revealed items linked to occult practices, including a spade, incense sticks, jowar flour, black dolls, a trident, rudraksha beads, lemons, hair strands, needles, amulets, and multi-coloured threads.During questioning, the suspects admitted they had come to excavate hidden treasure. Those arrested have been identified as Ashok Rathod (50), Ritesh Bhagat (19), Leeleshwar Bawane (26), Kundan Rathod (28), all from Washim district, along with Virendra Gaikwad (35) and Keshav Rathod of Arni. Preliminary findings indicate that Gaikwad was performing the role of a priest. A case has been registered under Sec 3(1), 3(2), and 3(3) of Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice & other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
