Two married women of the district were arrested and forwarded to court on Sunday allegedly for sacrificing a five-year-old girl for witchcraft two days ago.
According to sources, the girl child, identified as Punam, daughter of Indramani, a resident of Gumuda village under Dharaudih police station, had gone to an Anganwadi centre of the village at 10 am on Saturday and at around 2 pm, she had returned to her home. Mother Rebati, had given food to Punam. After taking food, Punam had gone to village square to play there. Punam’s father Indramani after finishing his work went to his home at 5 pm but when he did not see Punam at home, he and his wife Rebati started searching for her but could not trace her.
Since child theft rumour still grips that village, parents of Punam and locals got worried. Locals also suspected one woman of village identified as Sandhya Nag (27), who allegedly used to practice witchcraft and suspected her in Punam’s missing. When they asked Sandhya about Punam, Sandhya told them that child theft racket must have taken Punam. Suspecting Sandhya, locals entered into the house of Sandhya and started searching Punam and found Punam’s body in a tin box.
After rescuing her, they took Punam to hospital but doctor declared her brought dead. After coming to know about death of Punam, tension prevailed in village and they dragged Sandhya and her distant cousin woman identified as Navina Sah (42) from Sandhya's house and beat them severely.
After getting information, Sundargarh ASP RN Barik and Sundargarh SDPO Balabhadra Deep , alongwith police force, reached the spot. When senior police officials assured locals that accused women will be severely punished, locals handed over then to police at 12 am night. The locals also decided to ostracise family members of both accused from the village. Sources said, Indramani and Rebati had become parents after 10 years of their marriage.
On Sunday, police interrogated both accused women and they reportedly confessed to their crime.