Varanasi police arrest six for alleged murder of occultist

Varanasi police have arrested six individuals in connection with the alleged murder of Anish Upadhyay, an occultist. The suspects, identified as Sonu, Vishal, Vikas Kumar Gond, Sahil Gond, Abhishek (alias Rohit Kashyap), and Mohit Kashyap, were apprehended on August 13 and 14.

According to investigators, the family had hired Upadhyay to perform rituals to address ongoing financial difficulties and illnesses. After several days of rituals, the family’s situation reportedly worsened, leading them to plan the murder. Police state the accused lured Upadhyay to a rented house under the pretext of treating a possessed friend.

The victim was allegedly assaulted with an iron rod, a wooden stool, and a domestic gas cylinder. To conceal the crime, the suspects reportedly played music to mask screams, cleaned bloodstains, and used room freshener to hide the scent. The victim's wife initially reported him missing in July before filing a formal complaint alleging murder and the concealment of his body in bushes.