A 40-year-old man was arrested for reportedly killing a barn owl in Outer District's Sultan Puri area, police said on Monday. The accused identified as Kanahaiya — arrested on Sunday — allegedly purchased the owl to perform some tantric rituals.

"We received a tip off from Animal Welfare Board of India officials. Along with the officials and a team from Sultan Puri police station, a joint raid was conducted and a dead Barn Owl was found in the residence of the accused," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer District) Seju P Kuruvilla stated.

Police said the accused Kanhaiya is a resident of C-Block, Sultan Puri. During questioning he told the cop that he bought the barn owl from an undisclosed location in Delhi.

"He disclosed that he sacrificed the owl to perform some black magic," said the DCP. "In this regard, a case under appropriate sections of Wildlife Protection Act, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Sultan Puri police station in Delhi," he added.  

"Driven by religious myths and superstitious beliefs tied to them, owls are poached for their body parts such as talons, skulls, bones, feathers, meat and blood, which are then used in talismans, black magic, traditional medicines and more," said  Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS and head of the organisation's Anti-Poaching Unit, Forest Watch.

"Awareness regarding the illegality of the offence and the abominable treatment of these birds is incredibly important to curb cruelty and poaching of wildlife. Hunting and trading of all Indian owl species is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972," he said.