Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday informed the Odisha Assembly that 10 people have lost their lives in witchcraft-related attacks in Rayagada district in the past 10 years.
Responding to a question from Congress MLA Kadraka Appala Swamy, the Chief Minister said that during this period, 63 cases linked to witchcraft-related assaults and deaths—locally known as “Gunigaredi”—were registered in the district.
Majhi further stated that the police have taken strict action against the accused in such cases and have also launched initiatives to spread public awareness aimed at preventing superstitious practices.
He also clarified that no cases of social boycott tied to witchcraft practices have been reported from Rayagada district in the past decade.