Lanjigarh: Back-to back murders over superstitions like witchcraft and sorcery have rocked Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district. In the latest incident, five persons were arrested on charge of murdering a villager on suspicion of witchcraft and sorcery at Merangpada village under Biswanathpur police limits here Thursday. This is the third such murder within a month in the area. Police said earlier cases in Kandama village under Lanjigarh panchayat and Manastara village under Bedagaon panchayat had been cracked.
The deceased in the latest case was identified as Sandu Majhi, 40, and the accused as Ghuruna Majhi, 53, Pusta alias Kusta Majhi, 35, Sandru Majhi, 38, Lachhman Majhi, 39 and Raju Majhi, 32, all from Merangpada village. They were produced in the court and were remanded to judicial custody after their bail plea was rejected. This was stated by Additional Superintendent of Police Shubhranshu Sekhar Mishra at a press conference held on Biswanathpur police station premises here, Thursday.
Mishra was joined by Kesinga SDPO Sambit Kumar Majhi and Biswanathpur IIC Tulasiram Sabar. According to police, the victim, Sandu Majhi left home August 30 for nearby Khajuriguda village to repair his bicycle, but did not return home. His wife, Raza Majhi, lodged a written complaint, alleging her husband had been murdered over a witchcraft suspicion September 3. Following the complaint, a special investigation team was formed under the leadership of SDPO Majhi, IIC Sabar and ASI Buddhishyam Majhi. The team, along with a sniffer dog squad and forensic experts, began inquiries in the village.
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Five suspects were detained for questioning, and based on their disclosure, police recovered the body, which had been buried in a nearby forest. The exhumation was carried out in the presence of executive magistrate Sandeep Tirkey and an additional tehsildar. Police also seized a sharp-edged weapon allegedly used in the crime. The body was handed over to the family members after a post-mortem. During interrogation, the accused confessed to killing Sandu over suspicion of witchcraft practice. They were arrested, produced in court, and later sent to jail. Biswanathpur police registered a case no (58/25) under Sections 103(1), 238, 61(1), and 3(5) of the BNS.
Authorities admitted that repeated witchcraft-related murders have become a major concern for law enforcement agencies. To curb superstition-driven violence, Kalahandi police plan to launch awareness programmes in collaboration with elected political representatives, NGOs, community leaders, intellectuals and local residents, SDPO Majhi said.
