In a shocking incident, some miscreants allegedly attempted to sacrifice a child at Dumduma Phase-II in the city on Thursday night, their bid was foiled by local youths.
The Khandagiri police detained eight persons for questioning in this connection.
Sources said that as many as nine persons, including owner of a house and a Tantrik, dug two pits of about of 10-feet depth in the house. They had all witchcraft articles like a brass pot, a copper plate, flowers, fruits and a small boy with them.
Smelling something fishy going on, local youths confronted the house owner, who claimed they were making preparations for a Vastu Puja. But by the time the local youths inquired about the two big pits and the presence of the child, the Tantrik managed to flee the spot with the child by a motorbike.
The Tantrik’s escape made the youths more suspicious. They caught hold of eight persons and informed the police, who arrived at the spot and took all the eight persons into custody.
The police too seized all articles and the Bolero by which the miscreants had come.
The incidence triggered shockwaves among the locals. When contacted, the DCP was unavailable for comment.