Ahmedabad: Police have discovered dismembered skeletal remains believed to belong to a 32-year-old woman, the latest victim in an alleged serial killing case. The suspect, a witchdoctor, recently died in police custody after confessing to killing 12 people
Sarkhej police on Wednesday went to Wankaner and exhumed body parts that are believed to be of Nagma Mukasam, who was allegedly murdered by witchdoctor Navalsinh Chavda in June this year. “We recovered dismembered remains from gunny bags and grocery bags, along with the victim’s clothing. Now, DNA tests will be conducted to confirm the victim’s identity,” said Inspector R K Dhulia of Sarkhej police.
Investigators said that in May this year, Chavda had killed three other members of the Mukasam family — parents Kadar (62) and Farida (58), and brother Asif (35) — by poisoning them. These deaths were initially recorded as mass suicide by Paddhari police, which closed the case in Oct.
According to police, Chavda targeted the family over a financial dispute involving a loan of ₹3 lakh. He allegedly lured Nagma into his evil plan by claiming that the deaths in her family were caused by evil spirits and convinced her to undergo certain rituals. She was then poisoned with sodium nitrite before being dismembered. Chavda then allegedly buried the body parts in Wadhwan.
Police will now seek permission to exhume the bodies of Nagma’s parents to conduct the DNA test. They have requested Wadhwan and Paddhari police to reopen the cases. Chavda, who is accused of 12 murders, died in police custody three days ago. Among his victims were his own family members, including his mother, grandmother and uncle.
Chavda’s ashram in Wadhwan, Surendranagar, was a hub for his occult activities.
