Witchcraft Suspicion Sparks Brutal Attacks on Elders in Odisha
Key Points
Two elderly men were brutally assaulted in Kendrapara and Balangir over witchcraft suspicions.
Both victims were hospitalized with severe injuries; police investigations are underway. The incidents highlight the urgent need for awareness and enforcement of anti-witch-hunting laws.
Kendrapara/Balangir, Aug 30: In two deeply disturbing incidents in Odisha, elderly men were violently assaulted by villagers over unfounded suspicions of practicing witchcraft, reigniting concerns over superstition-driven violence in rural communities.
The first incident occurred in Barei village under Marshaghai police limits in Kendrapara district, where 70-year-old Umesh Jati was dragged out of his home late at night and mercilessly beaten with rods and sticks.
The attackers, reportedly acting on suspicion that Jati had cast a spell on a woman in the village, tortured him throughout the night. Believing him dead, they dumped his unconscious body outside his house.
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✨He was later rescued by family members and admitted to Kendrapara District Headquarters Hospital in critical condition. His daughter has filed a formal complaint, and police have launched an investigation.
In a separate incident in Talchakel village under Bangomunda police station in Balangir district, 60-year-old Miniketan Bag was attacked by three youths while heading to his farmland with his brother. The assailants, armed with iron pipes and sticks, accused Bag of being a “witch doctor” and inflicted severe injuries.
He was rushed to Kantabanji Hospital, where he remains under
treatment. Bangomunda police are actively investigating the case and have
identified the suspects.