As ghastly incidents of killing of children for witch-craft are being reported often in Koraput district, the police administration launched a drive to stop such killings on Saturday. Notably, three persons had killed a four-year-old girl at Sorisopadar village under the Pottangi police station on July 22 to appease a goddess. Earlier to this, blind belief had made a couple of Kudumula village under Damanjodi PS kill their four-year-old daughter. The mother had even drunk the blood of her daughter to propitiate evil spirit.
“It is extremely unfortunate that people are being killed in the name of sorcery and ostracised at the slightest provocation. Through this campaign, we are trying to send a message across the rural areas that witchcraft and sorcery are only blind beliefs,” said SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Police said awareness is being created through village meetings, street plays, posters and leaflets. Groups have been formed by roping in prominent village leaders and traditional healers of the rural areas to spread awareness.