Daijiworld Media Network- Prayagraj

Prayagraj, Aug 28: In a shocking incident, a man murdered his 17-year-old grand-nephew, severed his head and torso, and dumped the body parts at different locations on the alleged advice of an occultist. The accused, identified as Sharan Singh, was arrested from Kareli area of Prayagraj, police confirmed on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhishek Bharti said the victim, Piyush, a Class 11 student of Saraswati Vidya Mandir, was reported missing on Tuesday after he failed to return home. His mother, Kamini Devi, later learnt that her son had not attended school and lodged a missing complaint at Kareli police station.

The same day, police recovered a torso from a drain in the Naini industrial area, but it could not be identified as the head was missing. On Wednesday, Piyush’s head was found in Saidpur Kachhar area, confirming his identity.

During investigation, a local woman informed police that she had seen a man on a scooter throwing a bundle into the drain. Her description matched that of Sharan, who was later taken into custody.

On interrogation, Sharan confessed to the gruesome murder. Police said his son and daughter had died by suicide in 2023 and 2024. Stricken with grief, he consulted an occultist who allegedly told him that Piyush was destined to die but survived, and that Sharan’s children had perished in his place. Acting on the occultist’s advice, Sharan killed the teenager, police added.

He admitted to wrapping the torso in a sari before dumping it in a drain using his scooter. The accused is now in custody and further investigation is underway.