Police in Ghaziabad have arrested two individuals for a shocking murder allegedly committed as part of occult rituals and human sacrifice. The arrests occurred on Saturday, following a complaint registered by the victim's brother.
Discovery of the Crime
The case came to light on January 16, 2026, when the brother of the deceased approached the Tronica City police station. He filed a formal complaint about his missing sibling. Assistant Commissioner of Police Siddharth Gautam from Loni confirmed the details of this disturbing incident.
The victim was identified as Naveen, also known as Nandu. He lived in Milk Vikas Nagar, located in the Loni area of Ghaziabad. According to initial police reports, unknown persons killed Naveen and then set his body on fire inside an auto-rickshaw.
Police Investigation and Arrests
After registering the case based on the complaint, officers launched a thorough investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the area and gathered intelligence from local sources. This investigative work led them to identify the suspects involved in the crime.
On Saturday, police teams moved quickly to apprehend two men. The arrested individuals are Pawan, aged 25, and Sagar, aged 24, who also goes by the alias Pandit. Both men are residents of Nishant Colony in Ghaziabad. Authorities are still searching for a third suspect named Naseem, also known as Iqbal, who remains at large.
Motivation Behind the Murder
During interrogation, the arrested men provided chilling details to the police. They stated that Naveen was actually their friend. The trio took Naveen to Delhi to meet with a tantrik, or occult practitioner.
The tantrik allegedly made a promise to them. He claimed that performing a human sacrifice would bring the group immense wealth and divine blessings. Shockingly, police say Naveen himself asked the tantrik whether a friend could be used as the sacrificial victim.
Influenced by these conversations, the accused hatched a plan to kill Naveen. On the night of January 13, the group gathered in Sagar's room. They consumed alcohol together. After this, the attackers turned on Naveen, striking him with a gas cylinder until he died.
Attempt to Destroy Evidence
Following the murder, the perpetrators tried to cover their tracks. They wrapped Naveen's body in a blanket. Then they placed it inside a battery-operated auto-rickshaw. Later, they set the entire vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy any evidence of their crime.
Recovery of Evidence and Criminal History
Police have successfully recovered crucial evidence from the accused. This includes the battery-operated auto-rickshaw used in the crime and the gas cylinder that served as the murder weapon.
Officials also revealed troubling information about the arrested men's backgrounds. Both Pawan and Sagar have previous criminal records. Their past cases include charges of murder, robbery, theft, and violations under the Arms Act. This history indicates a pattern of serious criminal behavior.
The investigation remains active as police continue their search for the third accused, Naseem. Authorities are determined to bring all individuals involved in this horrific case to justice.
