Nischintakoili: Police claimed to have arrested a self-proclaimed godman and his associate on charge of practicing sorcery on local school girls at Barpada here in Cuttack district.
The accused godman was identified as Karunakar Swain alias Hari Baba and Baishnab Muduli, his associate. Swain had built a mutt by encroaching upon a government land where he used to practice sorcery on the girls.
As a result of his practice, high school girls in nearby four villages complained of stomach ache and later collapsed. However, the girls were found in good health after they underwent a check up with the doctors.
The locals caught him and Muduli red-handed and handed them over to police.
A case was registered in this connection over a complaint by the guardians and further investigations were on. Moreover, the additional tehsildar Rabindra Pradhan conducted an inquiry by visiting the spot and found that the mutt was build over the land owned by water resources department.
Police also called the girls for questioning and will produce them in court Wednesday, SDPO Pradyumna Kumar Jena said.
The guardians suspected the involvement of Swain and were keeping a close watch on him when they caught him red-handed conducting some objectionable rituals during the period of lunar eclipse Monday night. Swain and his associates tried to flee when the villagers overpowered them and detained them at a school before handing them over to police. PNN
