Jajpur/Malkangiri: There seems to be no respite from superstition-related crimes in Odisha with the killing of two persons and torturing of a woman coming to fore in Jajpur and Malkangiri on Monday.
While a man and a woman were allegedly murdered on suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Jajpur district, a woman was brutally tortured and forced to eat pig excreta in Malkangiri district on the pretext of exorcising evil spirits from her body.
The two murders were reported from Nimaplli village in Kalinganagar area of Jajpur. The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.
Being informed about the incident, police rushed to the spot and started an investigation into the matter.
On the other hand, in Malkangiri, a woman of MV-6 village under Tandapalli panchayat, who was believed to be possessed by evil spirits, was severely tortured by a sorcerer to exorcise the evil spirits.
According to sources, the sorcerer thrashed the woman and forced her to eat pig excreta to ward off the evil spirits. Moreover, the victim suffered burn injuries on her face after she was exposed to fire during the sorcery.
Later, she was admitted to the district headquarters hospital after health condition deteriorated. Her health condition is stated to be stable now.
Despite being counselled by the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and anganwadi workers, the family members of the victim are yet to file a complaint against the sorcerer fearing counter action from fellow villagers.
“The victim was having problem in breathing. She suffered burn injuries during the sorcery. Even after asking them to take her to the hospital, they were not listening,” said Laxmi Munda, an ASHA worker.
Notably, three people were killed and one was critically injured due to sorcery in Malkangiri last month.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)
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