One arrested for murder over 'sorcery' in Odisha

One person was arrested by police on Thursday in connection with the mysterious death of a man identified as Janek Mallik from Gopipadar village under Kandhamal’s Phiringia Police limits.

The accused has been identified as Balunkeswar Mallik from the same village.

As per the police, the accused had killed Janek suspecting him to be practicing sorcery.

Sources said, the accused, Balunkeswar killed Janek on the night of March 22 with a stick and stone. Later he dumped Janek’s body on the village road which was recovered by the police the next day.

As the accused had fled the village, the police were searching for him after registering an FIR.

He (accused) was finally nabbed on Thursday.

“Some people used to call my father a sorcerer. There were fights in the past too over the same matter. Balunkeswar had earlier threatened to kill my father,” said the son of the deceased, Varun Mallik.

Janek’s daughter-in-law said, “He was quite unpopular in the village. In fact, some people hated him suspecting him of practicing sorcery. And finally, he was killed.”

The police have also recovered the stick and stone used to kill Janek.

The accused has been forwarded to court following a medical test.