However, local residents opposed the sorcerer’s arrest and did not allow police vehicle to move out of the village.
Till the last report came in villagers took away the sorcerer, identified as Premananda Parichha of Punamari village from police custody.
According to reports, the villagers had sought Parichha's help to ascertain the exact reason behind the death of one Ranjan Mallick whom they suspected died because of some 'witchcraft' on October 30.
On getting information about the puja, police rushed to the spot and tried to take Parricha into custody. But this was opposed by the villagers.
Meanwhile, police have cordoned off the area to re-arrest the sorcerer.
Further details in connection with the incident are awaited.
A youth of Salerapada under Thakurmunda block, who was bitten by a snake, died while undergoing treatment at the Karanjia hospital of Mayurbhanj district today.
However, the family members of the youth called a black magician believing that he would use his supernatural powers to spew life into the dead.
After getting information, Police reached the spot and spoke to the deceased youth’s family who later agreed to send the body for post mortem.
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Yesterday also, a similar incident was reported from Odisha's Balasore district, when the relatives of a dead patient took help of a sorcerer who chanted mantras over the mobile phone into the deceased’s ears to wake him up.
Another case was also reported from Chhendipada hospital of Angul district where a black magician reportedly performed magic to cure a lady constable bitten by a snake.
The deceased has been identified as Madhu Payasingh of Digasira village under Sindhekela police limits in the district.
According to sources, Madhu was bitten by a snake and was admitted in critical condition to Bolangir district headquarter hospital.
Even as Madhu was declared dead by doctors, his family members didn't let the body for post-mortem and instead called for a black magician believing that he would be able to spew life into the dead boy.
Asked about the incident, hospital authorities said they were unaware about it.
According to reports, the health condition of the girl continued to be poor since last two years. Family members of the girl said they tried to cure her by taking her to many doctors in the district but it yielded no results. Therefore, after losing faith in medicinal treatment, they hired a sorcerer to cure her.
Meanwhile, family members have denied responding to the matter.
Even when police was informed they did not take any action and declined to comment on the matter.
https://youtu.be/xDMfHrbarL8
According to reports, a woman identified as Rinki Barik was bitten by a venomous snake on Saturday. Though the family members rushed Rinki to Chhendipada Hospital, she was declared brought dead by the doctors.
Later, the family members called a sorcerer to conduct puja for bringing Rinki back to life.
Several attendants of patients were taken aback when the sorcerer started to chant mantras by placing the dead body outside the hospital.
"Not only ignorant but also educated mass resort and fall prey to such superstitions. However, a patient can only be saved through proper medical treatment instead of such black magic methods," said Angul Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Rabi Chandra Gadnayak.
On being informed, police rushed to the spot and sent the body of the woman for post-mortem.
"Even after the doctors declared the woman dead, her family members were not satisfied and called the sorcerer to resurrect her. Later, police team reached the spot and warned the sorcerer for not indulging in such acts,' said Angul Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Harihar Pani.
Reportedly on Wednesday night, one Satish Gopal of Dumerimunda village in Kesinga was bitten by a venomous snake following which his family rushed him to Kesinga hospital. He was again shifted to Bhawanipatna hospital this morning after his condition worsened. Later when doctors at the hospital declared him dead, his body was kept at the morgue for post-mortem.
Palpable tension prevailed at the premises after the family members called a black magician to the hospital and allegedly opened the morgue without permission in an attempt to infuse life into Gopal.
Getting information, police reached the spot to pacify the locals while latest reports claimed that the morgue has been closed by hospital authorities.
"The doctor gave some injections but later declared him dead. The body was kept at the mortuary for as long as three hours. We called a sorcerer and asked the hospital authorities to open the morgue. Yes, we have belief on God. If He wants, our son will come alive," said Gopal's father.
The hospital authorities are yet to respond over the issue.
According to sources, one Dule Beti of Urmaguda village under Kalimela Block in the district was suffering from high fever and body pain over the last three days. However, instead of going to the hospital, she went to a local sorcerer to cure her ailment.
The sorcerer's black magic was caught on a video footage shot by a bystander. In the two-minute video, which has gone viral on social media, the sorcerer was seen performing rituals in the local language, apart from fanning and biting on different parts of Beti’s body to heal her fever.
It may be noted that this is not the first instance of such superstitious acts getting caught in camera. It is being seen that many tribals hailing from cut off and underdeveloped regions of the State prefer going to quacks or resorting to home therapies rather than medical assistance at times of health emergencies.