The Hathras district police made a startling discovery on Thursday about the sinister reason for the death of 9-year-old Kritarth, the pupil who was slain as part of a black magic ceremony meant to bring renown and prosperity to the school. In relation to the crime, five people—including the father and the director of the DL Public School in Rasgawan—have been taken into custody.

Times Now, citing police sources, said that Kritarth was killed by Dinesh Baghel’s father, the manager of the institution. It is said that the manager’s father, Jashodhan alias Bhagat, thought that black magic might bring wealth to the school via human sacrifice, especially that of a kid. After the boy’s family filed a complaint, the manager was apprehended by the police while trying to dispose of the child’s corpse in his vehicle. In relation to the crime, the manager, his father, and three other people have been taken into custody by the police.

Kritarth, a Class 2 student at the DL Public School in the Rasgawan neighborhood, was residing in the school’s dorm, according to Times Now. Dinesh Baghel, the school manager, notified Kritarth’s family about the child’s illness on Monday morning. Kritarth was gone from the family when they got to the school. When they questioned Baghel, he gave false information, saying that he had taken Kritarth for medical attention. But the family managed to hold Baghel close to Sadabad with the assistance of the police. The corpse of Kritarth was discovered, shockingly, on Baghel’s car’s backseat.

According to the postmortem examination, he had been strangled and had neck injuries.

Interestingly, this wasn’t their first try. According to the police, the five had previously made an unsuccessful attempt to murder another youth.

In relation to the case, the following people have been taken into custody by the police:

Ramprakash, a Gautam Nagar, Sadabad inhabitant and Leela Singh’s son.

Yashodan’s son Dinesh Baghel lives in Rasgawan, Sahpau.

Jashodhan, also from Rasgawan, son of Dori Lal, also known as Bhagat Ji.

Lakshman Singh, from Baldev in the Mathura district; son of Radhelal.

Virpal, the village of Banka Mursan’s son of Raghuveer.