• Authorities rescue an infant before he was to be sacrificed in rituals to find a treasure
• Police investigate beliefs and their impact on society

Authorities in the Bengaluru region of India’s Karnataka state intervened at the last moment to stop what they described as a violent incident driven by superstition.

The sacrifice of a one-year-old child had reportedly been planned as part of mysterious rituals aimed at searching for buried treasure.

Local reports said preparations were underway inside a private residence when officials arrived, after unidentified informants alerted local authorities to the incident, prompting the district’s Child Protection Unit to inspect the home of a man identified as Syed Imran.

Investigative teams found a small pit dug at the site along with ritual-related items, such as incense sticks and flowers offered as sacrifices.

Authorities halted the rituals and transferred the infant to a child care center, while police continue their investigation into the incident.

Although rare in modern-day India, attempts at human sacrifice linked to the search for treasure are not new, with similar cases uncovered over the years in various parts of the country.

The incident in Karnataka is currently being treated as both a child protection case and a criminal matter at the same time.

Police are investigating the extent to which deeply rooted beliefs about hidden wealth can drive people toward extreme actions, and how communities can be mobilized to prevent such practices.