Man lynched by mob in Rayagada over sorcery suspicion | Bhubaneswar News
Koraput: Tension gripped the block headquarters of Padmapur in Rayagada district after a 55-year-old man was allegedly lynched by a mob on Monday night over the suspicion of practising sorcery. The deceased, identified as Bhairav Sahu, a resident of Hatapada Sahi, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Padmapur hospital, police said.
According to Sahu’s daughter, Rasmita, a group of villagers confronted her father around 9 pm, accusing him of being responsible for the recent death of a local. The deceased reportedly suffered from blood cancer, but villagers alleged that he died due to “black magic” performed by Sahu.
What began as questioning by the group soon turned violent, Rasmita said. “A crowd of nearly 200 people attacked my father. They paraded him naked through the village, beating him mercilessly with sticks, iron rods and sharp-edged weapons from one street to another,” she said.
She added that their house was also vandalised. “We pleaded with the mob to let him go. My father had no connection with sorcery. But the brutality went on for nearly four hours,” she said.
Police were alerted and a team led by IIC of Padmapur police station, Dharanidhar Pradhan, arrived at the scene. However, the situation spiralled out of control, and the IIC sustained a serious head injury after being struck by a stone hurled by the mob.
As Pradhan was being rushed for medical attention, the mob’s fury turned entirely towards Sahu. Police managed to eventually rescue him and rushed him to Padmapur hospital, where he died during treatment.
In response to the violence, four platoons of security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Rayagada SP Swathy S Kumar said that 28 people have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Two FIRs have been registered — one by the police for the attack on the IIC and another by the family of the deceased. “Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend others involved,” the SP said. “The situation in the village is now under control and additional forces have been stationed to prevent any further unrest,” she added.
According to Sahu’s daughter, Rasmita, a group of villagers confronted her father around 9 pm, accusing him of being responsible for the recent death of a local. The deceased reportedly suffered from blood cancer, but villagers alleged that he died due to “black magic” performed by Sahu.
What began as questioning by the group soon turned violent, Rasmita said. “A crowd of nearly 200 people attacked my father. They paraded him naked through the village, beating him mercilessly with sticks, iron rods and sharp-edged weapons from one street to another,” she said.
She added that their house was also vandalised. “We pleaded with the mob to let him go. My father had no connection with sorcery. But the brutality went on for nearly four hours,” she said.
Police were alerted and a team led by IIC of Padmapur police station, Dharanidhar Pradhan, arrived at the scene. However, the situation spiralled out of control, and the IIC sustained a serious head injury after being struck by a stone hurled by the mob.
As Pradhan was being rushed for medical attention, the mob’s fury turned entirely towards Sahu. Police managed to eventually rescue him and rushed him to Padmapur hospital, where he died during treatment.
In response to the violence, four platoons of security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Rayagada SP Swathy S Kumar said that 28 people have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Two FIRs have been registered — one by the police for the attack on the IIC and another by the family of the deceased. “Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend others involved,” the SP said. “The situation in the village is now under control and additional forces have been stationed to prevent any further unrest,” she added.
