Odisha woman allegedly beaten over witchcraft suspicion, six booked in Bhadrak
A 54-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers in Odisha’s Bhadrak district over suspicion that she practised witchcraft, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on September 25 in Banitia village under Bhadrak Rural police station. The woman approached police with a complaint on Wednesday, six days after the alleged assault.
According to her complaint, several villagers entered her house, accused her of practising witchcraft and allegedly attacked her with a crowbar and wooden sticks. They also damaged the fence and grill of her house, while some of her belongings were allegedly taken away.
The woman further alleged that she was attacked again while being taken to hospital in an auto-rickshaw. Some villagers allegedly stopped the vehicle, pulled her out and assaulted her.
Police later reached the area, rescued the woman and admitted her to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.
The woman told police that she and her son had been attacked earlier as well and that her son had required hospitalisation.
Bhadrak Rural police station IIC Subrata Das said the FIR was primarily registered in connection with a land dispute, although the woman had also alleged that she was being harassed over accusations of witchcraft.
A case has been registered against six people, including two women. Police said no arrests had been made so far and the investigation was continuing.
with inputs from PTI
