Badasahi: A day after five people, including four women, were tortured at a ‘praja’ court in Madhupur village under this block of Mayurbhanj district over sorcery suspicion, police arrested seven people and registered cases against 104 villagers Monday.
The arrested persons were identified as Budhiram Singh, Jathea Singh, Jagin Singh, Budhuram Singh, Raj Singh, Maguni Singh and Thein Singh.
The condition of three tortured women is stated to be critical. The incident took place October 22, but came to light Sunday on the intervention of media persons.
The police summoned all the locals to the police station, Monday, to spread awareness the harmful effects of superstition.
Betnoti sub-divisional police officer Dhiren Chandra Nand and IIC Minati Biswal recorded the statements of the locals.
According to sources, eight people had died due to spread of an unknown disease in the village despite undergoing treatment. Locals believed the deaths happened due to the practice of ‘sorcery and black magic’.
A few days ago, the 10-year old son of Budhiran Singh had hurt his toe and died within 10 hours. They suspected Siba Singh, a villager, of hexing the boy to death. On being attacked by angry locals, Siba shifted his blame onto the four women for fear of being thrown out of the village and accused them of being witches and eating humans.
Following this, the villagers dragged the women out of their homes and tied them to a tree. They abused, assaulted and humiliated the women in full public view before the latter were rescued by Badasahi police. Further investigation is on, the police said. PNN
