Post News Network
Patapur, July 1: Police Wednesday arrested six persons in a sensational murder case in which a man was beaten to death. Later, his body was burnt on the pyre of another man whose death was attributed to the witchcraft practiced by him. This incident occurred in Dwitiya Dhepaguda village of Gangapur panchayat Tuesday under local police limits in Ganjam district.
The deceased was identified as Prakash Mallik of the village. The accused Maguni Mallik, Dandapani Mallik, Bharat Mallik, Prabhas Mallik and Yogi Mallik along with prime accused Neelanchal Mallik were produced in Digapahandi JMFC court. Addressing a press meet, inspector in-charge Ajay Kumar Barik said they were remanded in judicial custody after the rejection of their bail petitions.
Runa Mallik, a 22-year-old youth of the village fell from the staircase of his neighbour’s house when he went to the terrace to dry paddy. He was admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur in critical condition. However, Runa succumbed to the injuries. Deceased’s father and uncle had also died in last one year for some reasons. Following Runa’s death, his two brothers Tuna and Neelanchal sought the help of a ‘tantrik’ to know the reasons behind so many deaths in the family.
Acting on some information from the ‘tantrik,’ they suspected Prakash Mallik of the village of practicing witchcraft on the family. The two brothers along with other accused brutally beat Prakash to death on the cremation ground when the latter went to attend Runa’s funeral. Worse, they even burnt his body in Runa’s funeral pyre. Prakash’s son Naveen lodged a complaint with police in this regard and a case was registered. Neelanchal confessed to the crime during interrogation.
