On 3rd January, authorities rescued an eight-month-old baby was rescued from a house in Sulibele village of Hoskote Taluk in Bengaluru. A detailed investigation has been launched following fears of a possible ritualistic child sacrifice.
The infant was retrieved at the residence of Syed Imran, a local vendor, and his wife after officials acted upon an anonymous tip-off stating that the child was in imminent danger.
The alert came around 10:40 am on the national child helpline number 1098. The caller informed that the baby was about to be sacrificed by his parents on the occasion of full-moon day over a ritual believed to help uncover hidden treasure. After imparting a sketchy location and a mobile number, the caller hung up.
Initally, the officials had a tough time to locate the house as the details provided were not specific. However, teams from DCPU and Child helpline collaborated, after which they traced the address at Janata Colony in Sulibele village.
According to a report by the Times of India, District Child Protection Officer Anita Lakshmi, said that when officials tried calling the informant back, the person appeared confused, but the team managed to identify the house through local checks.
When officials entered the home, they found a freshly dug pit inside the living room, measuring around 2.5 feet by 2 feet. Items used in religious rituals, including incense sticks and flowers, were also found at the spot. When questioned, Syed Imran and his wife reportedly gave unclear and inconsistent answers about why the pit had been dug, raising further suspicion. The baby has since been taken to safety, and officials are continuing their investigation into the matter.
