Mithun Naskar's body was found with a deep cut in the throat and wounds on the body in a forest near the village, the villagers said.Mithun vanished from his home last Thursday. The villagers launched a vigorous search for him, but could not find him.

On March 28, when villagers gathered in the temple for puja, they noticed blood stains on the floor. They followed the stains and stumbled upon the body of the boy in the nearby forest.

The police arrested Sudharshan Sardar and his "disciple" Kartik Bairagi for "carrying out tantrik rites." Surdharshan lives in a neighbouring village. The police are still investigating the duo's hand in the killing.

The villagers generally avoid the forest, which helped the "tantrik and his disciple to convert the little woodland into their den".

Sources said that the villagers had reportedsuch incidents earlier. But nothing was done.

Mithun's friends reportedly told the village elders that a tall "mysterious" looking man came some time back and told the boys playing in the field to "come to the temple in the evening." And "if they came they would be given money."