Girl's headless corpse found in forest near Dhanbad, human sacrifice suspected
A minor girl was found beheaded in a forested area of Dhanbad's Baliapur police station limits, sparking panic among local residents. Her body was recovered in separate parts from the forest near Dhanging Basti, in front of Chatniya bridge and ahead of the Marai Than.
The girl's head was reportedly found inside a plastic sack, while her torso was recovered at a different spot in the forest. The discovery drew a large crowd of villagers to the area, following which police, a forensic team and a dog squad reached the spot and began investigating.
During the investigation, police reportedly recovered incense sticks and some puja material from the crime scene. The recovery led some local residents to suspect that the killing could be linked to human sacrifice, or 'narbali'.
However, there is currently no confirmation that the religious material found at the spot had any connection with the girl's murder. Police are investigating this aspect along with other possible motives and have cautioned against reaching conclusions before the investigation is complete.
The forensic team collected several samples from the scene, while the dog squad was deployed to assist investigators in gathering clues.GIRL REPORTED MISSING A DAY EARLIER
The deceased was identified as a minor girl, with her family members and relatives reaching the spot after learning about the recovery. According to the family, the girl was around 17 years old and originally from Bengabad in Giridih. She had been staying with relatives in Maniadih, Dhanbad.
City SP Ritwik Srivastava said the girl's father had reported her missing at a police station on the previous evening. Police subsequently called the young man with whom the girl was reportedly in a relationship for questioning.
According to police, the girl and the young man had been living together in a rented house. Investigators are questioning him and examining his possible role in the case.FAMILY ACCUSES BOYFRIEND, RELATIVES
The girl's family has alleged that she was in a relationship with a young man from the same village. They said the relationship had previously led to a community-level dispute, during which a panchayat was held.
According to the family, the young man had also been jailed after the dispute. After being released, he allegedly took the girl with him and the two began living in a rented house in Karmatand, Dhanbad.
The family said discussions were underway to call the two to the police station for a settlement, but the girl was killed before that could happen. Her relatives have accused the young man's father and aunt, along with the youth, of being involved in the killing. They also claimed that the young man's father opposed the relationship.
These allegations have not been independently verified.
Police said the investigation is continuing and no possibility has been ruled out. The City SP said investigators are examining whether the young man, a relative or any other person was involved.
On the villagers' suspicion of human sacrifice, police said it would be inappropriate to draw any conclusion until the investigation and forensic examination are complete. Further details are expected after the forensic findings and questioning of the people connected to the case.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 07:46 IST
