Barely 48 hours ahead of the Ambubachi Mela headless body of a woman was recovered near Joy Durga temple on Nilachal hill in Guwahati, on Wednesday evening.
The incident took place around 7 pm on Wednesday when some locals spotted the headless corpse lying near the staircase leading to the temple.
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There was also some assorted stuff spread near the body, normally used during worship, which led many to suspect it to be a case of human sacrifice.
The recovery of the body also made a mockery of the security arrangements of the Assam police, who claimed to have arranged tight security arrangements in and around the historical Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hill ahead of the Ambubachi Mela.
“It is difficult to make any comment as of now. We have started investigation. Search is on to trace the head so that the diseased can be identified,” police said while refusing to divulge much about the incident.
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Guwahati city police commissioner Deepak Kumar has reached the spot of the incident.
Talking to the media, Kumar said, “It is a killing of superstition. We have found stuff used during worship and a blanket. The woman might come to the temple with some others known to her, offered puja and then she might have been given intoxicating element after which she lost consciousness and then was killed.”
The annual festival draws lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country and world to the temple every year and the temple authorities have estimated that close to 25 lakhs devotees will visit the temple for the forthcoming festival.