Newborn vanishes from locked room, mother claims spirit took her:Bhopal family turns to tantric rituals in desperate search; infant later found dead in water drum

In Madhya Pradesh Crime Files, we discuss a five-year-old case in which a mother firmly claimed that her one-month-old baby girl was taken away by a ghost. She repeatedly stood by her statement, leaving the entire family confused. To bring the child back, a tantric was called, and occult rituals were performed. Even after this, the baby did not return. What came to light afterward shocked everyone. What exactly happened in this case? Read Part-1 of Madhya Pradesh Crime Files. Date – 16 September 2020, Location – Khajuri Road, Bhopal Dehriya village lies on the outskirts of Bhopal, where most residents depend on farming. The weather was clear that day. A mild September chill had begun to blend into the air, bringing relief from daytime heat. Like the rest of the villagers, Ashok Mewara and his family were busy harvesting soybeans in their fields. Around 11 AM, when the work was at its peak, Ashok’s phone rang. The name of village sarpanch, Purushottam Mewara, flashed on the screen. With a sense of worry, Ashok answered. From the other end, the sarpanch spoke in a panicked voice, “Ashok, come home quickly… Kinjal is not at home. We can’t find her anywhere.” Hearing this, the ground seemed to slip from under Ashok’s feet. Kinjal was his younger brother Sachin’s daughter—only a month old—the beloved child of the whole family. Chaos at home and the ‘ghost’ claim The scene at home was heartbreaking. A crowd had gathered outside. Inside, Sachin’s wife, Sarita, was crying uncontrollably. The women of the house tried to comfort her, but she wasn’t calming down. Sachin, trembling, asked Sarita, “Where is Kinjal? What happened?” Sarita’s response shocked everyone. Crying, she said, “I placed Kinjal on the cot in the room and went out to wash clothes. When I returned, she wasn’t there. I think… some ghostly spirit has taken her.”The moment the word ‘ghost’ was mentioned, panic spread through the village. The news travelled quickly. The entire village searches for Kinjal A one-month-old baby disappearing mysteriously—and the mother blaming a ghost—made no sense, yet fear and superstition kept people from questioning her. Soon, the entire village joined the search for Kinjal. Some villagers ran toward the fields, others looked into nearby ponds and wells. Every bush and drain was checked. But Kinjal was nowhere. The tantric’s occult ritual in a locked room As time passed, hope faded and superstition grew stronger. The family urgently called Bhadar Singh, a well-known tantric from Bhopal. He soon arrived with his team. The atmosphere in the house became even more tense. He went straight into the room from where Kinjal had disappeared. He made everyone—including Sarita—leave the room and locked the door from inside. Chanting and strange sounds began coming from the room. Outside, the family and villagers waited silently, hoping he would free the child from the ‘spirit’. This continued for about an hour. Five hours later… the truth Afternoon turned into evening. Nearly five hours had passed since the baby went missing. The tantric had achieved nothing, and the villagers’ search outside the home had also failed. Exhausted, the family decided to search the house again. Around 4 PM, Ashok’s eyes fell on a 50-litre blue plastic water drum near the kitchen. A sudden fear struck him. With trembling hands, he opened the lid. Everyone screamed. Inside the water lay the tiny body of baby Kinjal. She was no longer breathing. Ashok and Sachin pulled her out immediately, but her body was stiff, and foam was coming from her nose and mouth. Police investigation and rising suspicion Around 5 PM, Ashok informed Khajuri Sadak police station. Inspector L.D. Mishra arrived with his team. The police took the body for post-mortem. At first glance, it might have looked like an accident. But how could a one-month-old baby reach a drum on her own? The question troubled everyone, and the police suspected murder. The post-mortem and diatom test confirmed it. The report stated that the baby died due to drowning. There were no injury marks, meaning she had been directly submerged in water. It was a clear case of murder. Now the biggest question was—who killed her? Investigation begins Inspector Mishra led the inquiry. There were no CCTV cameras. The only people present at the time were the family members. The police narrowed it down to three: Police began separate questioning. Sarita’s Statement “I bathed Kinjal, applied oil, and put her on the bed. I made my niece sit beside her and told her I would return after washing clothes. When I came back, Kinjal was missing.” Sugan Bai’s Statement “I went outside to throw garbage and was with other children. Then Sarita ran out shouting that Kinjal was gone. I didn’t see anyone enter or leave the house.” Niece’s Statement The child said she was playing in the courtyard when Aunt Sarita told her grandmother about Kinjal’s disappearance. There was no clue suggesting the presence of an outsider. One door of the house was shut, and Sarita was at the other door washing clothes. So who killed the child? The police’s suspicion deepened. Could one of the three be the killer? Read in Part-2 of Crime Files-