KOCHI: "Why live a life of misery? Can you come to Thiruvalla? You will get money and comfort. Padma now has a house and a handful of cash. Think about it...''- this was the offer put forward by Shafi to other lottery sellers in Ernakulam city in order to lure them as victims of human sacrifice.

Realizing that Shafi is a criminal and obsessed with witchcraft, the lottery sellers rejected the 'offer'.

One of them told Kerala Kaumudi that he had been constantly following and inviting her to Thiruvalla. This happened a few days ago. Shafi said that a pooja should be performed in front of a divinely empowered couple after wearing a white saree. "When I told him that it would be difficult to go to Pathanamthitta, he assured me that he would bring me back within 24 hours", the lottery seller said.

"If we had gone, we would not be alive now. It is already known that Shafi is a fraud. Whenever he talks, he talks about witchcraft and animal sacrifices. That's why we didn't go that day", said a 48-year-old lottery seller from Ernakulam.

"I know Padma akka (Padma) for a few years. She was like a sister. Rosli chechi was a friend. The family of both even struggled for food. When Shafi said he would give money, they might have fallen into that trap. We must find out where the gold ornaments worn by Padma akka and Rosli have gone.", she said.