Woman's headless body
The headless body of a woman recovered near Kamakhya Temple. Image - Northeast Now

Was it a human sacrifice near the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati on Wednesday?

Superstitious belief of human sacrifice seemed to have revisited city’s Kamakhya Temple after recovery of a headless corpse of a woman near the staircase of Joy Durga Temple, located close to Kamakhya Temple, atop Nilachal hill on Wednesday.

“We have visited the place of occurrence even today. Our investigation is on. Preliminary investigation leads us to suspect it to be a fallout of superstition,” said Guwahati city police commissioner Deepak Kumar while talking to media on Thursday.

Also read: Guwahati: Headless body of woman recovered near Kamakhya Temple

Headless body of a woman was recovered near the staircase of Joy Durga Temple on Wednesday evening.

Some vermilion and other stuff used during religious rituals were also found scattered around the body, which led many to think that it is a case of human sacrifice.

Police have already sent the body and the stuff found scattered near the body for forensic examination. Anti-superstition worker and human rights activist Dibyajyoti Saikia also suspected it to be a case of human sacrifice.

“The occurrence of the incident particularly ahead of the Ambubachi Mela and recovery of vermilion, earthen diya and other stuff leads to apprehend it to be a case of human sacrifice. It may not be true. Whatever it is, the occurrence of such an incident in highly secured Kamakhya Temple exposes the failure of police,” Saikia said.

Also read: Assam: Ambubachi Mela to start from June 22

The priests of the temple and temple management authority, however, refuted the apprehension of human sacrifice behind the incident.

“According to scriptures, the ritual of sacrifice is not associated with feminine gender. According to mythology, sacrifice is associated only with the male. Besides, the Mother Goddess Kamakhya, who is a woman, is also worshiped here. Different stages of woman are worshipped in Kamakhya Temple. So, relating to yesterday’s incident with human sacrifice is not true,” said Doloi (priest) of Kamakhya Temple, Mohit Chandra Sarma.

He said that some miscreants have staged this to mislead the police over a crime like murder.

The priest appealed to the police for a thorough investigation regarding the incident so that the culprits can be brought to book soon.