70 needles removed from 19-year-old sorcery victim’s skull in Bolangir

Doctors on Friday successfully removed a staggering 70 needles from the head of a 19-year-old girl from Bolangir, which were pierced by a ‘tantrik’ (sorcerer) to cure her frequent illness.

The surgery was successfully carried out by doctors of VIMSAR, Burla.

As per reports, the victim Reshma Behera from Inch village under Sindhikela police limits in Bolangir district was admitted to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital after she complained of severe headache. 

Later a CT scan revealed presence of multiple needles in her skull. Subsequently, she was referred to VIMSAR. After the patient was received at VIMSAR, following a number of scans and tests, the surgery was scheduled and 70 needles were extracted from her skull.

The matter came to light after the girl, identified as Reshma Behera’s family removed eight needles from her head.

It was some four years back when the girl’s health condition deteriorated, and her family took the help of the sorcerer Santosh Rana of Jamutjhula village. The family took Reshma to the sorcerer as her health condition did not improve after medical treatment. 

It was during this period that the accused allegedly pierced syringe needles into the head of Reshma, who then had fallen unconscious. However, she could not realise anything at that time.

It was recently that Reshma’s family spotted the needles and gradually removed eight from her head. Later, they brought her to the hospital for further examination.

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Based on the complaint filed by the girl’s family, Balangir police have already arrested the sorcerer who had pierced the needles into the victim’s head.