A four-year-old girl was sacrificed by her neighbours to propitiate goddess Durga in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, police sources in Lucknow said on Thursday.

The body of Garima, who was hacked to death by her neighbours in Bajahara village "to ward off evil spirit" on the advice of a tantrik (tribal magic practitoner) last Tuesday, was exhumed after a member of the family confessed to the dastardly act.

Five people, including the tantrik have been arrested, they said. The victim's body bore nine injury marks on the neck, police said. The weapon used in the crime and some blood stained clothes were also recovered.