BADIN: Police investigations into a theft in Badin district have brought to life two murder cases long dead and buried — by all but the kith and kin.

One of the murders — that of a seven-year-old boy — took place seven years ago while the other — that of a six-year-old boy — occurred one year ago.

Sikander Bagerani, who was arrested in a case of theft on Saturday by the Tando Ghulam Ali police, has confessed to the murder of the two boys.

The suspect said he kidnapped the two boys, killed them and threw their bodies into waterways in the area.

He claimed that he was a “trainee in black magic” and was following the instructions of his uncle, Ahsan Bagerani.

“I committed the crime on the directions of my maternal uncle so he could train me further in the black arts,” he told police.

Badin’s SSP Abdul Qayyum Pitafi said on Sunday that he had instructed the officers concerned to investigate the deaths and submit a report as soon as possible.

He said he had assured the boys’ parents that police would bring the culprits to justice soon.

Villagers told journalists that both the suspects were known to have been involved in “exorcism” since long.

The suspect had also confessed to dumping the body of the six-year-old boy in Naseer canal after killing him, said the villagers.

In an FIR registered with the Tando Ghulam Ali police station, Ali Hassan said his seven-year-old son’s body had been found in a pond in Haji Juman Bagerani village seven years ago. His son had been strangled, the complainant said.

The FIR was registered under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the two accused.

Raids were being conducted to arrest Ahsan Bagerani, the police said.

‘Black magic’ has continued to persist, particularly in rural areas of the country, due in part to the lack of proper medical facilities, and prevailing traditions and attitudes. Injuries and sometimes gruesome fatalities result from the practice of ‘black magic’ and attempts to ‘exorcise’ individuals.

Earlier this year, an eight-year-old girl received facial burns when an ‘exorcist’ put her head in a pitcher filled with fire on the pretext of ridding her of ‘demons’.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2016