By IANS
Balasore (Orissa) : Residents of a village have allegedly beheaded four people including three women for sorcery in Orissa’s Balasore district, police said Thursday.
Though the incident occurred on the night of Aug 26 at Pratapur village, some 150 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, it came to light after three bodies were found from three separate places in the district Thursday.
“The beheaded bodies, including of a male, were found at Ayodhya, Fatripur and Puruna Balasore area but their heads were yet to be found till Thursday evening,” additional district superintendent of police Pradipta Das told IANS.
The dead have been identified as Tia Singh, Budhini Singh, her husband Soren alias Rabi Singh and Somabari Singh. While Tia and Somabari belong to Pratapur village, the rest had come to their relative Tia’s house from Mayurbhanj.
Police sources said, on Aug 14, Raju Singh, son of Siba Singh, a ward member in Pratapur village died of snakebite when he was sleeping.
“A group of villagers however suspected it as a handiwork of some witches and decided to take action after the Akadasah (11th day of the death). On Aug 26, the villagers held a meeting and branded the four as witches,” investigating officer Santosh Dash said.
Rabi Singh, an eyewitness told the police: “At least a hundred people were present in the meeting that day. While four people killed them, others were watching the ghastly incident. They then threw the bodies and weapons used in the crime into the river.”