Baripada: Nine people were arrested on Tuesday on charges of torturing a woman suspecting her to be involved in sorcery in Bhanupur village under Baisinga police limits of Mayurbhanj district.
The police also seized land records on which she was forcefully asked to sign, bond paper and documents in which villagers have signed.
Meanwhile, men of the village have left their homes fearing arrest.
Sources said Bali Murmu invited the wrath of the villagers after one villager Chandu Murmu alleged she was responsible for his ill health.
Bali’s husband Anupa Murmu had to sell off an acre of land at Rs 1.50 lakh to meet the villagers’ demand.
At Gaya, Bali was tonsured and she along with her daughter was subjected to several rituals which were quite offensive, sources said.