Rayagada: A 40-year-old man was allegedly killed by fellow villagers on suspicion of practising witchcraft in Burusubadi village under Badaalubadi panchayat and Seskhal police limits of Rayagada district, police said Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Ramarao Jilakara, 40, of Burusubadi. According to police, a group of villagers tied Ramarao to an electric pole in the village square August 8, assaulted him and allegedly forced him to consume poison.
Later, they carried his body on a cot to a cremation ground and set it on fire. Family members were also allegedly threatened with dire consequences if they spoke out.
Ramarao’s younger brother, Dharma Jilakara, lodged a complaint at the Seskhal police station August 12. In his statement, Dharma said that another villager, Kasana Jilakara, had died of some illness August 7.
After the funeral, villagers accused Ramarao of practising witchcraft and causing Kasana’s death. Out of fear, Ramarao and his family fled to a relative’s house in nearby Kunjabadi village.
However, when Ramarao returned home around 10– 11pm August 8, a group of villagers, including Bijay Jilakara, Prabha Mandangi, Rajesh Mandangi, Burusha Mandangi, Partha Jilakara, Gameya Jilakara, Ankesha Mandangi, Prakash Mandangi and Bombeya Mandangi, allegedly tied him to the pole, beat him, forced him to drink poison, and later cremated the body without informing his family.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case (73/2025) under various sections (189,190,191, Clause II of 103,296, 238, 351) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police arrested 12 people and produced them in court August 13, Rayagada SDPO Gourahari Sahu said Saturday.
Police have also announced plans to conduct awareness programmes to prevent such incidents. The deceased’s brother further said that this was not the first such case.
In 2023, following the death of a villager named Ishwar Mandangi, the same group of villagers had threatened Ramarao’s family, accusing them of witchcraft.
At the time, Ramarao had sought police protection, and villagers were made to sign an undertaking saying no harm would be done to his family. Dharma also recalled that nearly 20 years ago, their father, Pedeya Jilakara, was killed by villagers under similar suspicion of practising witchcraft.
Community leaders and intellectuals have condemned the incident, pointing out that even as society moves toward modernity, people in remote areas still fall prey to superstition and witch-hunting, underlining the need for strong awareness campaigns.
PNN
