General
A suspected case of witchcraft-related murder emerged from Kandama village. The body of an elderly man from Kalahandi district, who had been missing since July 30, was recovered from the railway tracks in Rayagada on Tuesday.
Police have launched a detailed investigation and arrested two accused.
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According to sources, in a shocking case of witchcraft-related crime, the elderly man from Kandama village under Biswanathpur police limits in Kalahandi was allegedly murdered and dumped on a railway track. The incident has triggered widespread outrage in the region.
The deceased man, identified as Raghu Patra, had gone missing around a week ago. His family members, after failing to trace him, had lodged a missing person report at Biswanathpur Police Station, prompting an official investigation.
In a major breakthrough, the elderly man’s body was recovered today from the Dahikhal railway line in Rayagada district. The Railway Police recovered the body and handed it over to the Biswanathpur police for further investigation.
Raghu had been previously accused of Gunigaredi (witchcraft) by some villagers, and the deceased’s family suspects that the long-standing rivalries led to his murder.
Acting on the FIR, police deployed a scientific team and a sniffer dog squad to intensify the investigation. Confirming developments, Kalahandi SP informed the media that two persons have been arrested in connection with the case.
Police are continuing their probe to uncover further leads and determine whether more individuals were involved.
This tragic case once again underlines the persistent belief in witchcraft in some rural areas and the deadly consequences that follow such superstitions.
“Previously, about a year ago, he (Raghu) was beaten up by them (suspected villagers) over witchcraft. My brother then rescued him. He had consumed alcohol along with four men, and they had murdered him,” deceased Raghu’s son, Murali Patra, stated.
Reported By: Subham Rohila