Post News Network
Mohana, Jan 20: Villagers lynched a man reportedly over the suspicion that he practiced sorcery and subsequently burnt his body to destroy evidence at Talasingh under Sikulipadar panchayat and this block in Gajapati district late Monday night.
Tabatia Mallick (40) of Kusumpadar Sahi in the village was killed after co-villagers suspected his role in the death of five persons who in fact died of various reasons.
The assailants even threatened his family members with dire consequences if they dared to speak about the killing before others.
By word of mouth, police got wind of the incident and swung into action. As part of their investigation, police Wednesday reached Parabadi hill, about 3 km from the village, and seized the cremains of Tabatia.
A case was registered over a complaint lodged by the victim’s wife Sabitri Mallick while eight villagers were detained in this connection for interrogation.
The cremains have been sent for forensic examination to Berhampur and the accused will be arrested soon, IIC Prasant Bhupati said.
Sources said Tabatia was in the eyes of suspicion of a section of villagers after five persons – Bhimasen Mallick (45), Hari Mallick (46), Mangala Mallick (45), Kalucharan Mallick (40) and Sajani Mallick (15) died of various ailments in quick succession.
They believed that Tabatia’s practice of sorcery led to the deaths and thrice discussed the issue at village meetings. In the meetings, Tabatia reportedly admitted to have practiced black magic and even threatened to kill more villagers in future.
The villagers then decided to eliminate him. They barged into his house late Monday night but failed to find him. The villagers then found him on the outskirts of the village and beat him to death with wooden planks. They took the body to Parabadi hill where they burnt it to destroy evidence. PNN
