CG News: The City Kotwali police in Balod district, Chhattisgarh, have arrested three individuals for allegedly attempting to extort money from people by using the threat of occult practices (tantra-mantra) and spiritual rituals (sadhana) while dressed in saffron attire. The arrested individuals include a father and his son. They were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Roaming the city and surrounding villages for three days
According to the police, the three men—who arrived from Uttar Pradesh—had been moving around Balod city and its neighboring villages for the past three days. During this time, complaints were received alleging that they were intimidating people by invoking the fear of occult practices, engaging in abusive behavior, and attempting to extort money.
Taking these complaints seriously, the City Kotwali police initiated action. Two of the suspects were apprehended near Sadar Road, while the third was caught in the Siwani area.
All three suspects are from Uttar Pradesh
The police identified the arrested individuals as Vidyasagar—a resident of Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh—and his 18-year-old son, Krishna Sagar. The third suspect, Atul Pandey, is reported to be from Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh.
Following preventive legal action, the three were produced before a court and subsequently sent to jail under judicial remand.
Police urge the public to remain vigilant
In light of this incident, Balod SDOP Vinay Kumar has urged city residents to remain vigilant. He advised that if anyone attempts to intimidate or extort money by invoking the fear of occult practices or rituals, the matter should be reported to the police immediately.
The police have also appealed to citizens not to take the law into their own hands upon encountering any suspicious activity, but rather to inform the police so that appropriate action can be taken in a timely manner.
