Pune woman forced to consume powdered human bones to conceive child; husband among 7 booked

Seven people have been booked for allegedly making a woman consume powder made of human bone as part of a black magic ritual so that she could conceive, police in Pune in Maharashtra said on Friday.

The accused comprise the husband, his parents, his brother, the tantrik and other kin, while there is also mention of a "woman mantrik" in the complaint, Inspector Jayant Rajurkar of Sinhgad Road police station said.

"The 28-year-old victim got married in 2019 but did not have a child. So her husband, in-laws and other accused would conduct black magic rituals during 'amasvya' (no moon night). She has alleged she was made to drink water mixed with powdered human bone. She was also allegedly made to bathe in a particular waterfall," he said.

A case under Sections 498A, 323, 504,506 of IPC along with section 3 of the anti-superstition act has been registered.

"The family is well-educated. We'll arrest them soon" said Suhail Sharma, DCP Zone-3, Pune.

Victim was mentally and physically harassed

The woman has also alleged the accused used to mentally and physically harass her to force her to get money from her parents, the official added.

The seven have been booked under The Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 as well as Indian Penal Code section 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), Rajurkar said.