India, Feb. 12 -- A 72-year-old occult practitioner has been arrested for allegedly killing three people here by feeding them poison-laced "ladoos" in the name of performing a ritual promising "dhanvarsha", a windfall, police said on Wednesday.

Accused Kamruddin alias Baba, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad, was operating so-called "tantric" centres in Loni and Firozabad, and was wanted in two murder cases registered in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

"He was apprehended following a detailed technical and field investigation. He was involved in a well-planned conspiracy to eliminate the victims and rob them of cash and valuables," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sachin Sharma said.

The officer said Kamruddin lured his targets ...