Human sacrifice: Kerala couple hacked victims to pieces, likely consumed the flesh

The remand report of the accused said that Rosely's breasts were cut off by the accused and the body of the other victim, Padmam, was chopped into 56 pieces

Pathanamthitta: Undated photos of Rosilyn (L) and Padma who were allegedly murdered and buried in a case of black magic and human sacrifice at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Bhagaval Singh (R) has been arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in the case. Credit: PTI Photo

Even as more details are emerging in the shocking case of human sacrifice in Kerala's Pathanamthitta, the couple involved in the brutal killing of two women for ritualistic sacrifice were also suspected to have consumed flesh of the victims as per the advice of the sorcerer and kingpin of the crime.

Prime accused Mohammed Shafi alias Rasheed and the couple Bhagaval Singh and his wife Laila were produced before the court on Wednesday and remanded to judicial custody for two weeks.

While there were reports that Laila told the police that they cooked parts of the victims' flesh after killing them and consumed it as per the advice of Shafi, Kochi City Police Commissioner H Nagaraju said that it was yet to be confirmed but could not be ruled out.

"There is a chance that such a thing happened with Rosely who was killed in June. But we have no evidence yet," said the Commissioner.

The remand report of the accused said that Rosely's breasts were cut off by the accused. The body of the other victim, Padmam, was chopped into 56 pieces.

The Commissioner said that kingpin Shafi was a sexual pervert and sadist who found pleasure in inflicting injuries on the private parts of women. It was evident in the killing of the two women in human sacrifice as well as the rape and murder attempt of a 75-year old woman in 2020, in which he is an accused.

The couple were trapped by Shafi through a fake social media account offering help for financial prosperity. He is involved in around 10 cases over the last 15 years. He had studied only till sixth standard and used superstition as a cover to satisfy his sexual perversion. The couple had no criminal history as per records, he said.

Another woman lottery seller in Kochi told the media that Shafi tried to woo her by stating that she would get Rs 50,000 as assistance from a family which was blessed by God. Police said that it needed to be probed to find out whether more women had become Shafi victims.

All the accused were charged under various offences including murder and abduction. Police will seek their custody for further probe.