Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 20:51 IST

In Kalwa, Thane, police uncovered that the murder of Shanti Chavan was a human sacrifice driven by black magic. Three suspects from Bihar, including a minor, were arrested

The murder has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents of Kalwa grappling with the grotesque nature of the crime. (Representative image)

In a chilling twist to the recent murder of a woman in Kalwa, Thane, police have uncovered what they describe as a brutal killing motivated by black magic and superstition. A week after the lifeless body of 37-year-old Shanti Chavan was discovered at an under-construction building site with her throat slit and limbs bound, investigators say the motive behind the crime was not robbery or sexual assault, as initially suspected, but human sacrifice.

Police have arrested three suspects, including a minor, all originally from Bihar, who allegedly traveled nearly 1,000 kilometres from their village in Patna to commit the murder. The accused have been identified as Vishwajit Singh (30), Devraj Kumar (19), and a 17-year-old boy whose identity has been withheld due to his age.

According to investigators, the trio confessed during interrogation that they were influenced by the teachings of a local tantrik (sorcerer) in Bihar. The tantrik allegedly told them that sacrificing a woman and taking her ornaments would bring them wealth and success. Driven by this belief, the men meticulously planned their journey to Maharashtra with the sole purpose of carrying out the ritualistic killing.

On arrival in Kalwa, the accused reportedly roamed the area until they found a woman who matched the sorcerer’s description. Shanti Chavan, a daily wage labourer working at the site, became their victim. The police report states that the men tied her hands and legs before slitting her throat. The youngest of the trio is said to have carried out the actual act of murder. The attackers then stole four gold beads from her necklace – items they believed were necessary for the promised prosperity.

Initial suspicions of gang rape had emerged due to the condition of the body, but forensic evidence and confession from the accused have now steered the investigation toward an occult motive. Aided by CCTV footage and digital tracking, police traced the suspects’ movements and eventually arrested them from their home state.

The murder has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents of Kalwa grappling with the grotesque nature of the crime. Local officials have expressed outrage over the apparent revival of barbaric superstitions leading to such acts of violence.

Thane police have launched a broader investigation to trace the sorcerer who allegedly incited the murder. Authorities are also probing whether the suspects were involved in any other similar crimes or rituals. “This is not just a murder, it’s a horrifying example of how superstition can take deadly forms," a senior police officer told reporters. The police said that every individual involved in this crime will be brought to justice.

Location :

Maharashtra, India, India

First Published:

News india Thane 'Human Sacrifice': Trio Travels 1,000 Km, Slits Woman's Throat For Prosperity