Post News Network
Berhampur, Jan 21: Even as the incident of tonsuring eight persons, breaking their teeth and force-feeding them human excreta at Olapur in Ganjam district over sorcery shocked the state, one of the victims was admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital Wednesday as his condition deteriorated.
Meanwhile, Chikiti outpost police arrested three persons and produced them in a court for their involvement in the incident. Accused Prashant Naik, Tarini Naik and Ram Behera were sent to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected. A platoon of police has been deployed in the village to maintain peace.
Mohan Sahu, who was hospitalised, alleged some villagers dragged him out of the house Sunday night and took him to the village ‘mandap’. There, he was beaten up severely and his teeth were broken. He was also force-fed human excreta, Sahu said.
Seven others, whom the villagers suspected of practising sorcery, were also tortured in the same way, Sahu said, adding the victims were warned of dire consequences if they disclosed the matter to police. Fearing further torture, all the victims fled the village that night, Sahu said.
The incident occurred when Lata Behera, daughter of Dinabandhu Behera, claimed she was ‘possessed by a spirit’ and identified the eight persons alleging they were practising sorcery. She allegedly announced that the villagers should get rid of these people or face the wrath of an ‘evil spirit’. Panicked, the villagers convened a meeting and tortured the eight persons.
