TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A horrifying story out of India is going viral for its tragic ending. Indian farmer Hemubhai Makwana, 38, and his wife, Hansaben Makwana, 35, died by suspected suicide, decapitating themselves with a homemade guillotine. The couple reportedly left a note indicating they had taken their own lives and that no one else was responsible for their deaths. Tragically, their children found their bodies.
The suicides occurred in the village of Vinchhiya, which is in the Rajkot district of the western state of Gujarat, Saturday or Sunday, according to the New York Post. The couple's children, 12 and 13 years old, left the family home Saturday to visit an uncle in a nearby village and returned to a grisly scene. It appears the couple wanted to sacrifice themselves, but investigators are trying to figure out why.
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The couple died violently.
The couple took their own lives in a gruesome fashion, the Hidnustan Times reported. Their children reportedly discovered their parents' torsos without their heads attached.
"The couple first prepared a fire altar before putting their heads under a guillotine-like mechanism held by a rope. When they released the rope, an iron blade fell on them, severing their heads, which rolled into the fire," said Vinchhiya village, sub-inspector Indrajeetsinh Jadeja of Vinchhiya police station.
Hemubhai and Hansaben Makwana were devoted Hindus.
Police said the couple created a temporary temple last year out of plastic bags. The temple included a photo of Lord Shiva, one of the highest gods in Hinduism, and a Shivling, which they constructed out of mud, the Times of India reported.
The U.S. Sun reported that the couple's family frequently worshipped in the temple. According to the news outlet, people in some parts of India still practice black magic.
Family said they were not under any unusual stress.
As police continue investigating the couple's deaths, they have spoken with family members who reported nothing unusual. The Times of India said Hansas' cousin, Jayanti Jatapara, claimed the family was not suffering financially and the couple didn't have any relationship problems.
Jadeja said, "We will get a clear picture once we record statements of all the family members." At this time, police say the deaths were accidental.
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This is the second human sacrifice story out of India in less than a month.
Another story out of India broke last month when police found the body of 10-year-old Vivek Verma in the fields in Bahraich, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Vice reported that Anoop Verma, the victim's cousin, reportedly had a young child who was often sick, and a black magic practitioner told him that to heal the boy he would need to make a human sacrifice. Police arrested Anoop, the black magic practitioner, and a relative named Chintaram, who allegedly used a spade to kill Vivek, and all were charged with murder.
What is black magic?
Although not widely practiced, black magic still exists today and can lead to someone having a violent and gruesome end. According to the Times of India, black magic is a form of witchcraft that uses supernatural powers for evil and selfish acts.
Those with weak horoscopes are easy targets of black magic, according to the news outlet. Symptoms include trouble sleeping, nightmares, darkening of the skin, and headaches. "Black magic makes humans victims of baseless fears, reverses fortune and confusion," the source asserted.
