Bhubaneswar: Mohana police detained eight persons on charges of killing a person for allegedly practising sorcery and burying his body in a forest atop a hillock in Gajapati district, on Thursday.
According to reports, Karunakar Dalei, a resident of Kamalapur village, was living in Kusumpur village for eight months. Dalei, who prepared herbal medicines for villagers, was suspected of practising sorcery following the death of a 12-year-old boy in the village.
According to reports, a group of youths abducted Dalei from his home, held him captive for three days at an anganwadi centre, suspecting him to have indulging in witchcraft, which led to the boy’s death. They reportedly subjected him to severe physical abuse, resulting in his death. The youths then buried his body in a forest area to destroy evidence.
Following a police complaint filed by Dalei’s family, the Mohana police initiated an investigation and detained the eight suspects for questioning. The police also exhumed Dalei’s body in the presence of a magistrate and a scientific team as part of the investigation. The body will be sent for post-mortem.
