Balasore: Police today rescued a family that was held captive for three days by villagers of Kantabania under Shyamsundarpur panchayat in Balasore district on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
As per reports the three persons including a couple were attacked and detained by locals on Saturday and not even allowing the trio to visit the hospital for treatment.
Although no police complaint has been lodged, Ishwarpur police outpost after getting information took suo-motto cognizance of the case and began investigation, sources added.
Locals in the village were falling in since some time and some of them approached a sorcerer, who made them believe that some villagers are practicing witchcraft because of which disease befell them.
Suspecting that the family was involved the villagers first assaulted them and later held them captive inside their house.
“A group of youths thrashed me while some women attacked my wife,” alleged one of the victims who sustained critical injuries in the attack.
“Strange things were happening. People suffering from fever and diarrhoea would visit hospital for treatment, but doctors sent them back saying they were fine. As soon as they reach their home, they again fell ill,” a resident of the village recalled.