Two women killed in India in suspected human sacrifice for financial gain
October 12, 2022, 7:30 pm

Two women killed in India in suspected human sacrifice for financial gain

Difficult life conditions for Indian women living in villages (Photo: Pixabay)

Two women were murdered in India as part of a suspected ceremonial human sacrifice that the culprits reportedly believed would lead to financial wellbeing, al-Arabiya reported.

Local and national media reported that three suspects, including a couple, were detained in connection with the crime in the South Indian state of Kerala.

Both the victims - Padmam, 57, a lottery vendor from Ponnurunni in Ernakulam and Rosli, 49, a resident of Kalady near Angamaly – were found buried next to each other on the property of the couple, The Hindu reported on Tuesday.

They were supposedly killed months apart. Both women were reported missing in their respective districts.

According to several reports, the buried bodies were dismembered, and DNA tests were required to identify them.

All three reportedly confessed to the crime, according to TOI, with police telling local news media that the victims may have also endured torture before their deaths.

Two women were murdered in India as part of a suspected ceremonial human sacrifice that the culprits reportedly believed would lead to financial wellbeing (File photo: Pixabay)

Kochi City Police Commissioner C H Nagaraju was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that “the couple had been facing a financial crisis and they decided to sacrifice the women to appease God and come out of the crisis.”

The incident, which is believed to be black magic, involved Mohammed Shafi who posed as a godman, and the couple – alternative medicine practitioner Bhagval Singh and Laila – the Times of India reported on Wednesday.

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Shafi was previously accused of the rape of a 75-year-old woman, according to the TOI report. In this instance, he is believed to have taken money from the couple to “arrange” for the women to be killed, according to a police report.

Meanwhile, Singh, whose family are traditional healers at Elanthoor, “has an active social media presence and has thousands of followers,” The Indian Express reported on Tuesday. Locals reportedly claimed that he was an active Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker.

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Considered one of India’s more progressive states with a leading literacy rate nationwide, the gory details of the incident have made national headlines.

At the time of this report, it is not clear whether there are more victims or suspects involved.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was quoted as saying by the BBC that the crime had “shocked the human conscience” and that abducting and killing people for superstitious reasons was a crime “beyond imagination in a state like Kerala.”

Source: alarabiya

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.