Women, Minor Girls continue to fall prey to superstitious beliefs in Nuapada

Nuapada: Instances of some women and minor girls showing weird behaviour in a village in Nuapada district have come to the fore raising concern among the public.

According to sources, around six to seven girls and women of Sanajohela village under Khariar block of the district have reportedly been showing unusual behaviour like rolling on the road, jerking their bodies as if hit by seizures. Locals allege that every time the girls and women show such strange behaviour, they fall sick and remain aloof.

On Friday, tension erupted in the area as residents of the area took all the affected persons to Khariar police station to seek help in the matter. The villagers alleged that the girls and women have been secretly subjected to some sort of witchcraft.

Taking cognizance of the matter, police sought medical help and immediately admitted the affected women to Khariar hospital.

Asked about the reason behind the unnatural behaviour, doctor-in-charge of Khariar hospital, Dinabandhu Mahanand, claimed that the women and girls have been suffering from some kind of psychological disorder.

“Medical science does not believe in ‘tantra’ or ‘mantra’ so the unusual behaviour of the residents may be attributed to any kind of psychological disorder. Intense belief on superstitions is what is probably causing these residents to show abnormality and awareness is the only way to prevent it,” said Mahanand.