Villagers burn a Man alive in Odisha suspecting Witchcraft

In a shocking incident, an angry mob of Dhepaguda village of Sanakhemundi block in Odisha’s Ganjam district burnt a fellow villager Prakash Mallick (45) alive late on Tuesday night suspecting him of practising witchcraft.

Police have arrested Tuna Mallick and his associate Maguni Mallick in this connection, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s son Nabin Mallick. They also seized the bones and ash of deceased from the cremation ground.

According to the police, the incident was triggered by the untimely death of one Runa Mallick (28) of the village. His brothers—Tuna and Nilanchal suspected Prakash’s witchcraft practice as the cause of Runa’s death. They also suspected the death of their paternal uncle Japani Mallick six months ago and their father Krushna Mallick a year ago was due to witchcraft of Prakash.

After completing the last rites of Runa, a mob led by his two brothers dragged Prakash from his house and beat him severely. While the victim became unconscious, they took him to the village cremation ground and burnt him alive, the police said.