Rayagada: Eight members of a family at Jhinjilibadi village under Chandili Police Station limits in this district have been thrashed and ostracized by village panchayat members on the suspicion that they were practising sorcery.
Murthi Himirika and his family came under attack after the death of Kamia Himarika (35), son of Sangna Himarika, due to mysterious reasons on August 16. Kamia’s relatives are alleged to have beaten up Murthi and his family members suspecting them of killing their son through black magic.
However, on the basis of complaints from both the famillies, the village elders summoned a meeting and blamed Murthi for the “sorcery death” of Kamia and ordered excommunication of the accused.
The police are yet to act upon the first information report stated to have been filed by Murthi on the same day.
However, deceased Kamia’s relatives once again attacked Himirika’s family after which eight members of the family fled the village in order to save their lives.
“We have left our land and house under threat from villagers,” said Himirika and threatened to immolate in public if the district administration failed to give them justice.
“This being a sensitive issue, we have taken it up seriously. The culprits will be booked,” said Additional District Magistrate Somanath Pradhan.
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