According to police, the juvenile in conflict with law said he had had a dream in which a tantrik (occultist) told him that he could have his shot at fame and wealth after committing around 10 murders.
A senior police official said that the juvenile went to Haridwar, from where he purchased a switchblade, and roped in Pradeep (26), convincing him that he, too, shall share in the fame and wealth which the tantrik had spoken about in the dream.
Two days later, police found the body of a 40-year-old man, identified as Hari Ram, in the same area. He too had multiple stab injuries and neither could that case be cracked then and there, said the official.
A special team was thereafter formed to investigate the two murders and hundreds of locals were questioned. It emerged that some of them had witnessed two persons near the murder spots. However, their identities could not be ascertained.
Police said that the juvenile and his accomplice would allegedly choose their prey at night and lure them with alcohol. Once the targets passed out from drinking, they would stab them to death and leave the spot, added the official.
The two accused have been booked for murder and the weapon used in the crime has been recovered, said DCP (West) Pushpendra Kumar.