Thai police have arrested the mother and three aunts of a 12-year-old girl who was killed in a ritual sacrifice to the Hindu God Indra ”to bring light to the world,” media reports said on Tuesday.
Police raided the house of Kanchana Jiamcharoen (50) near Ratchburi’s ”Floating Market,” on Monday afternoon after neighbours said they had heard screams coming from the compound at about 2am.
Kanchana’s 12-year-old daughter Prapassorn was found dead on the first floor with her throat slashed, said the Thai Rath newspaper.
Police arrested Kanchana and her three sisters on the second floor of the house after kicking in their door and fending off the four alleged ”spiritual mediums” who attacked them with knives.
Kanchana told Police Lieutenant General Chatchawan Sangraksa she had killed her daughter after consulting the Hindu god Indra, to whom she had entrusted her daughter’s spirit.
”I killed my daughter to bring light to the world,” said Kanchana, who claimed Prapassorn was possessed by an evil spirit.
The four sisters taped their ritualistic slaying of Prapassorn, which including slashing her throat with a cleaver and soaking her hair in water.
”What are you doing to me. Don’t do it,” were Prapassorn’s last words on the tape.
Nearly 90% of the Thai population profess to be followers of Buddhism, which prohibits all forms of sacrifice.
Brahmanism, which predates Buddhism in the kingdom, is still popular among a small minority of followers. ‒ Sapa-DPA