LUCKNOW, May 28 -- The mystery surrounding the chilling blind murder case in Sitapur's Sandana area deepened after police identified the mutilated body recovered earlier this month as that of a Lucknow resident allegedly involved in occult practices and tantric rituals.

The deceased has been identified as Satya Narayan Yadav, a resident of Nazar village under Malihabad police station limits in Lucknow district. Investigators said Yadav was known in the area for participating in exorcism-related activities, tantric practices and religious rituals, and was allegedly accused by some locals of duping people in the name of occult remedies.

Sandana police station in-charge, Arvind Katiyar said the body was recovered on May 13 from thorny bush...