1 week Ago By Cassian Baliarsingh
In a bone-chilling incident, a 50-year-old man was left battling for his life after villagers set him on fire over suspected witchcraft practice at Portipada village under Sinapali police limits in Odisha’s Nuapada district. The villagers tied the man with ropes made of straw and set him on fire. He has sustained serious burn injuries on his face, limbs, and other body parts.
The victim has been identified as Kham Singh Majhi. According to sources, the villagers accused Majhi of practising witchcraft and called a meeting in the village where he was threatened with dire consequences. Despite his denial of any witchcraft practice, a few villagers assaulted him and later set him on fire.
In a bid to save his life, Majhi ran around the village and finally jumped into a pond. The matter came to the fore after family members rescued him and admitted to a hospital. “The villagers had called a meeting and threatened him.
However, my father is not practising any witchcraft. After the meeting was called off, at least 10 people beat him up and set him on fire,” alleged Majhi’s son Hemlal. When contacted Arup Behera, Kharial SDPO informed, “We have received information that an attempt was made to burn alive a person to death.
The villagers set him on fire over suspected witchcraft at Portipada village. We have registered a case at the Sinapali police station. The injured is currently under treatment.
The investigation is now in its preliminary stage. We will ascertain the reason for the attack only after a thorough probe.”.
