Villagers beat up man for suspected sorcery

KORAPUT: A 40-year-old man was admitted to Rayagad district headquarters hospital on Friday with serious injuries. He was allegedly beaten up by villagers, who suspected him of practising witchcraft, the previous night.
Police identified him as Parmananda Huika of Lilipuda village in Kolnara block. "Pabitra Huika of the village succumbed to some unknown disease on April 24.The villagers suspected Parmananda of casting a evil spell on him," said SDPo (Rayagada) Y Jagannath Rao.
The SDPO said Parmananda is responding to the treatment and his condition is stable. "Around 10 villagers are involved in the incident and they will soon be arrested," he said.
On July 12, Kan village had reported a similar incident. A 25-year-old man was killed and his body later set on fire by villagers over suspected sorcery.
The Rayagad administration is planning to launch an awareness campaign against witchcraft in remote areas of the district to root out the evil belief. "We have to put an end to this superstition. The villagers will be made to understand that no one can be killed by witchcraft," said collector (Raygada) Jagannath Mohanty.