LUCKNOW: The body of a six-year-old girl was found near a temple in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday. The girl's father has alleged she was killed as part of a human sacrifice ritual.

The body was found in a pond near a temple in Nadirkurmiyan village in Chitrakoot district, 280 km from here, late on Wednesday.

"The girl was missing since Tuesday. Her father Chupka lodged a missing complaint with us," Inspector PK Pandey of Rajapur police station said.

Chupka alleged his daughter had been drowned as part of a sacrificial ritual, he added.

In a police complaint, Chupka named five people of the village. He told police they were involved in practising black magic and quite often sacrificed animals to appease gods.

"All the accused are at large and we are making efforts to nab them," Pandey added.