Human sacrifice

Atapur, India

At least seven people have been murdered in India this year as ritual offerings to the goddess Kali, Time Asia reported this week. The victims, mostly virgin girls, ranged in age from 3 to 18. In one recent incident, a man confessed to tying down a 15-year-old girl and lopping off her hands, breasts, and left foot while she was still alive. India’s increasing gap between rich and poor may explain the return of a practice that was rare even in ancient times. “You see your neighbor doing well, above his caste and position, and someone tells you to get a child and do a secret ritual and you can catch up,” sociologist Ashis Nandy said. “It’s got nothing to do with real mysticism,” said religious scholar Ipsita Chakaraverti. “It comes down to pure and simple greed.”

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