A man in Gujarat’s Chhota Udepur district has been accused of brutally killing a five-year-old child and offering her blood at the steps of a temple. Police said that the accused was arrested after the horrific incident took place on Monday.

According to police sources, the accused named Lala Tarbi kidnapped the child in the tribal-dominated village of Panej on Monday morning from in front of her mother and took her to his house.

Then he hacked her throat with an axe and brutally killed her.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Gaurav Agarwal said, “The accused cut the child’s throat and collected the blood and Lala offered that blood at the steps of a small temple in his house. The child’s mother and some villagers saw the incident, but they could not do anything as Lala had an axe in his hand.”

Although it was initially suspected to be part of a Tantra ritual, the police said that there was no evidence that the accused practiced Tantra or mantras. As a result, the exact reason for this brutal murder is still unclear.

Police officials said that the accused may be mentally ill. Based on the complaint of the child’s family, a case has been registered against him under various sections for murder and kidnapping.