Irate villagers demolish man’s house over suspected sorcery in Bhadrak

In a bizarre turn of events, some residents tore down the house of a local man suspected of performing sorcery in Bhadrak district's Rajpur village under Rural Police limits, official sources said on Thursday.

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Allegedly, the incident stemmed from recent deaths and alleged supernatural occurrences, sparking outrage and escalating tensions in the community.

According to sources, in a dramatic and concerning event in the district, some locals, fuelled by suspicion of sorcery, demolished the house of a man named Pratap Jena, also known as Lengudu. The incensed locals alleged that Pratap was performing sorcery.

Tensions have been running high in nearby areas after several unexplained deaths, including the sudden demise of some villagers and claims of female residents experiencing ‘ghost-like’ encounters. These alleged mysterious happenings led the villagers to accuse Lengudu of practicing sorcery, further intensifying unrest.

Yesterday, a confrontation broke out between Lengudu and the village community, and in the aftermath, the enraged residents destroyed at least two rooms of Lengudu’s house. The situation escalated rapidly, with police now intervening to calm the situation.

Rural Police have detained Lengudu for questioning, though no formal statement has been issued by the police yet. No comments were also received from the man.

With tensions still high, police authorities continue to speak with the villagers in an attempt to restore law and order, while concerns over the spread of superstition remain.

This incident highlights the potent mix of fear and distrust that arises in rural communities, particularly around unexplained events.

“Around 8-9 people from the village have died. We don’t claim that he (Lengudu) is behind it, but the soul (that has allegedly manifested in a woman) is saying this. He (the sorcerer) has kept them in a local temple. The soul revealed this yesterday through the woman; so that, we came to know about it,” a Rajpur resident Nirmal Jena said to OTV.