Jajpur: Two women have been arrested for allegedly beating two girls with canes at Panturi village in Odisha’s Jajpur district, claiming that it would rid one of them of a “black magic spell”.
Those arrested have been identified as a priestess named Gedi Dehury and her aide Tulasi Mahakud.
The incident took place on Tuesday when a teenage girl, who had been ill and showed no improvement after hospital treatment, was brought to the village’s Tarini temple on Dehury’s advice. Dehury attributed the girl’s illness to sorcery and beat her with a cane during a ritual to “free” her from the spell. When another girl tried to intervene, she was also allegedly beaten. Both girls were later rescued by locals, who then informed police.
Jenapur police took two women into custody and sent the girls to Dharamsala Community Health Centre for treatment.
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal said, adding that the two women have been arrested.
(with inputs from PTI)
