Varanasi: Six people have been arrested from different locations on Thursday and Friday in connection with the murder of a tantrik in the Lalpur-Pandeypur police station area. Police said the accused allegedly lured the victim, Anish Upadhyay, to a rented house on the pretext of performing rituals, killed him, and later hid his body in bushes.A case has been registered against them under relevant sections related to murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy. Those arrested have been identified as Sonu, 36, Vishal, 24, Vikas Kumar Gaur, 21, Sahil Gaur, 23, Abhishek alias Rohit Kashyap, 25, and Mohit Kashyap, 21.According to police, a missing person report for Anish was filed on July 9. As the investigation progressed, his wife lodged a complaint on Thursday, expressing suspicion that he had been murdered. Police then intensified the probe and traced the accused through scientific evidence and interrogation.Police said the accused were angry because Anish had allegedly blamed their poverty and illnesses on an “evil shadow”. They subsequently conspired to kill him.During the investigation, police found that the accused had called Anish to a rented house in the Manduadih area on the pretext of performing rituals on Aug 9. After he arrived, they allegedly attacked him with a gas cylinder, a wooden stool and an iron rod, resulting in his death. His body was later hidden in bushes.Police said loud music was played in the room during the attack so that his screams could not be heard outside.After the murder, the accused allegedly cleaned bloodstains from the walls and floor of the room. They also used room freshener and body spray to suppress the smell before dumping the body.Police have recovered a gas cylinder, a wooden stool, an iron rod and a music system allegedly used in the crime.
