UP horror: Women kidnap infant on occult practitioner's advice to bring missing family members back; 3 arrested

The incident unfolded in a small town in Uttar Pradesh when a woman, convinced by an alleged occult specialist, abducted a newborn baby from a neighbor’s home. The practitioner told her that performing a ritual involving the child would help locate relatives who had disappeared years earlier. Acting on this belief, the woman took the infant to a secluded location, where she attempted the ritual before being intercepted by local residents who alerted the police.

Law enforcement officials quickly launched an investigation, locating the missing child unharmed and apprehending the woman along with two accomplices who had supplied the occult advice and assisted in the kidnapping. The three suspects have been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with kidnapping, criminal intimidation, and causing fear through superstition. During questioning, investigators emphasized that the alleged practitioner had a history of exploiting vulnerable individuals by promising supernatural solutions to personal tragedies.

The case has sparked a broader conversation about the influence of occult practices in rural areas, where limited access to education and healthcare can make people more susceptible to false promises. Community leaders and local officials are urging residents to report similar incidents and to seek help from legitimate medical and legal channels when faced with personal loss. The police have pledged to increase awareness campaigns that address the legal consequences of such actions and to work with social workers to provide counseling for those affected by superstition‑based exploitation.