In the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district, sorcery related crimes are quite frequent. At least six persons were killed in the last three years in the district on doubt of practicing sorcery.
As many as 14 cases in this regard have been registered in different police stations. Besides, 19 persons faced murder attempts for practicing sorcery. In most cases, female persons were suspected of practicing witchcraft and were targeted.
Of the six persons killed during the last three years, four are females and two males. The Sundargarh police under the leadership of the SP recently conducted an awareness meeting in a panchayat against sorcery.
According to sources, in Sundargarh police district, every year two to three persons are killed allegedly for practicing sorcery. Recently, on July 7, in Kuanrmunda block at Jagdishpur, one woman was killed allegedly for practicing sorcery.
Before the incident, another woman had been killed at Ratakhandi in Kuanrmunda police outpost. On January 10, in Bhalumunda village in Balishankara block, two nephews had mixed poison in rice bowl following which after eating rice, their uncle had died and their aunt had become critical.
Taking the seriousness of the trend, the Sundargarh police on Wednesday conducted an awareness meeting in Masnikani panchayat under Bhasma police station. The villagers were made aware of witchcraft and told not to believe in the blind belief.
Superintendent of Police Soumya Mishra was the chief guest of the meeting. While addressing the persons, Mishra said, “In the age of science, witchcraft is an old blind belief. By sorcery, nobody can be made ill, nor cured of any ailment.”
Mishra further added if someone falls ill, the person should be taken to hospital rather than to a sorcerer. “Only illiterate people can believe in witchcraft. Therefore, if people stop believing in the blind belief, the crimes pertaining to witchcraft can be stopped,” Mishra added.