Man, female accomplice held for using minor girl in witchcraft

A man and his female accomplice were arrested here for allegedly using a minor girl for witchcraft activities, police said today.
Accused Vijay Thombre, 42, a resident of Dombivli area here, who claimed to be a 'godman', was held yesterday along with his female accomplice Janki Hindale, 34, for using a minor girl in his witchcraft activities, involving sexual exploitation of her, they said.
Thombre, who works as an LIC agent, has been practising black-magic for last 11 years and had told Janki that if he has sexual intercourse with a teenage girl, they will gain huge amount of wealth and had asked her to arrange a girl, inspector, Child Protection Unit, Thane Police, Mandan Ballal said.

The woman brought the 15-year-old victim to his place yesterday, he said, adding that on a tip off, they arranged a decoy and sent him at Thombre's place and subsequently, nabbed the duo.
The minor girl was also rescued from the spot while her parents, who agreed to offer their daughter to be used in the blackmagic activity, are at large.
The duo were charged under IPC section 366A (Procuration of minor girl), relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.

The accused were produced before the magistrate today who remanded them to police custody till May 12.