Sorada: As many as 35 persons were arrested Sunday on charges of assaulting and torturing a man and his family members on suspicion that they were practicing sorcery. Police said that 10 more people, who were on the run, would be arrested soon.
According to the case diary, the incident happened in Gobarlundi village under Sorada block in Ganjam district July 2, 2017. Two separate cases were registered in this connection and a probe was on, police added.
The victims were identified as Ustav Nayak and his nephews Baya Nayak, Prasant Nayak and Babula Nayak. Villagers suspected the four of practicing sorcery after some persons were taken ill all of a sudden in the village.
Their suspicion increased when several people, including a minor girl, were affected by some unknown disease.
Irate locals Khalia Nayak, Suktu Nayak, Ranka Nayak and three others dragged Ustav from his house and assaulted him in full public view. They were joined by other villagers who tied him before beating. His three nephews were also beaten up when they tried to rescue Ustav.
The villagers then called a meeting where they reportedly imposed a penalty on Ustav and his family members. Despite repeated pleas from the family that they were innocent the villagers told them to leave the village.
Ustav and his family members were socially ostracised and denied them water and other basic facilities. They were not even allowed to talk to anyone and had no work.
Later, Ustav approached the local police and narrated his ordeal. ASI Yudhisthir Majhi registered a case based on his complaint and arrested 35 people after a probe. Further investigation into the incident is on, Majhi said. PNN
