Violent group clash over sorcery leaves three dead, several others injured

Tension ran high in Kharipalli village under the Dharakote block of Ganjam district after a violent group clash that erupted last night killed three and left another three critically injured.

Sources reported that a group of individuals confronted Khadal Behera and his son Ratnakar Behera over allegations of practicing sorcery.  The verbal argument soon escalated to violence as the men resorted to dealing blows and attacks.

Casualties suffered:

The father and son duo was murdered in the prevailing chaos, and another villager, named Ramesh Behera, was also killed amid retaliation measures. Further, three more individuals were reported to be in critical condition and were rushed to the hospital following the arrival of police at the spot.

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Till the last reports came in, the situation remained extremely tense in the village, even as police detained around ten individuals in connection with the incident. A forensic team is expected to arrive at the scene to investigate further. However, authorities have not offered any additional comments on the matter.

Previous witchcraft suspicion led to tension:

Earlier this month, similar incidents of suspicion of witchcraft and sorcery had emerged from Bolangir, where a man’s head was severed while four others were rendered critical following a group clash over accusations of witchcraft practice in the village of Atgaon within the jurisdiction of the Tusura police station of Odisha’s Bolangir district.

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As per reports, the violence had then reportedly erupted between two factions, leading to the brutal murder of 40-year-old Sushant Bag, whose head was allegedly severed from his body.