5 held for assaulting woman on witchcraft suspicion
Rourkela: Bargaon police on Tuesday arrested five persons, including two ‘tantriks’ and a couple, for allegedly assaulting a woman on suspicion of practicing witchcraft in Sundargarh district.
The accused have been identified as Mangulu Toppo (40) and his wife Bimla Toppo (38), Anita Bara (35) from Manchamara village, Budhu Munda (65) from Kinjrikela village, and Asha Bage (40) from Litipara village.
According to police, the incident took place on Friday evening when Asha Bage sought help from tantrik Mangulu Toppo to cure her ailing son. During a ritual at Bage’s residence, Sangita Bage (30), a local resident, visited the house carrying a coconut and towel to witness the ceremony.
The two tantriks, Mangulu and Budhu, accused Sangita of practicing sorcery on Asha’s son. They allegedly whipped her for three hours, joined by Bimla, Anita and Asha. The accused also vandalised Sangita’s house, throwing out religious images despite protests from her husband, Muna Bage.
Muna filed a complaint with Bargaon police station on Sunday evening. “We have arrested five persons, including three females, under the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act,” said inspector-in-charge Ashish Jena. Police found a whip used in the assault.
The accused have been identified as Mangulu Toppo (40) and his wife Bimla Toppo (38), Anita Bara (35) from Manchamara village, Budhu Munda (65) from Kinjrikela village, and Asha Bage (40) from Litipara village.
According to police, the incident took place on Friday evening when Asha Bage sought help from tantrik Mangulu Toppo to cure her ailing son. During a ritual at Bage’s residence, Sangita Bage (30), a local resident, visited the house carrying a coconut and towel to witness the ceremony.
The two tantriks, Mangulu and Budhu, accused Sangita of practicing sorcery on Asha’s son. They allegedly whipped her for three hours, joined by Bimla, Anita and Asha. The accused also vandalised Sangita’s house, throwing out religious images despite protests from her husband, Muna Bage.
Muna filed a complaint with Bargaon police station on Sunday evening. “We have arrested five persons, including three females, under the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act,” said inspector-in-charge Ashish Jena. Police found a whip used in the assault.
