Odisha: Man killed, 2 sons critical in mob attack over witchcraft suspicion

Rayagada: An elderly man was killed while his two sons suffered critical injuries after being attacked by a group of villagers on suspicion of practising witchcraft at Titiguda village under Kashipur block in Rayagada district late last night.

The deceased has been identified as Dai Majhi. Critically-injured his two sons–Durjya Majhi and Lal Majhi– have been admitted to a hospital at Tikiri.

Sources said many people of the village have been affected by diarrhoea over the last few days. Accusing Dai’s family of practising witchcraft, a group of villagers barged inside their house late last night when they were in deep sleep and dragged Dai and his two sons out of their house. The mob later tied all three of them to an electric pole and went on beating the trio brutally.

While Dai died on the spot, his two sons managed to escape from the villagers’ clutches.

On receiving information, a police team reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. Initiating a probe into the incident, the police detained a person in this connection.