Guwahati Decapitation Case: Identity of Victim Confirmed and Suspects Named
In India, five individuals were detained by law enforcement officers after a ritualistic killing in 2019 that involved the beheading of a woman. The case drew attention to violent acts linked to ritual practices and temple settings, with coverage confirming the involvement of several people tied to a belief system associated with Tantrism.
The victim, Shanti Sho, aged 64, was killed near the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam. The shrine is noted as a significant site for practitioners who follow Tantric traditions. For nearly four years, investigators faced the challenge of identifying the deceased, leaving the case unresolved for a long stretch.
Law enforcement later identified the woman, and the investigation traced the crime to a group led by Pradeep Pathak, 52, a resident of Madhya Pradesh. Police reports indicate that Pathak organized the act under the premise of helping the soul of a deceased brother who had led a reclusive yogi lifestyle. Pathak handed money to the attendees and a relative of the organizer died about a decade earlier, a detail noted in the course of the inquiry.
On the night of July 18/19, 2019, Shanti Sho arrived in Guwahati for a religious holiday. The narrative states that men associated with the group lured her into a sequence of rituals. During one of these rites, Sho was restrained, beheaded, and the head was wrapped and discarded into the Brahmaputra River. It is reported that five people carried out the act directly, while about eleven people participated in the rituals preceding the murder.
Identification of the victim emerged through careful examination of clothing remnants, tattoos, and other distinctive markings. The initial organizer was arrested on March 25 and is alleged to have paid ten thousand rupees to each participant who attended the service. Police continue to search for other suspects who remain at large.
The case is part of a broader conversation about violence linked to certain religious and ritual practices, and authorities have emphasized the need for accountability and public safety in areas hosting sensitive sacred sites.
Earlier reports reference a separate historical note about remains related to ancient ritual practices in Peru, where accounts described the remains of individuals associated with sacrificed rites. The present case in India stands apart as a contemporary criminal investigation focused on a specific beheading incident tied to a local temple vigil and a defined group network.
Attribution: reporting compiled from Hindustan Times coverage and police statements released during the investigation stages. The narrative aims to present verified details while acknowledging evolving information as inquiries progress.