Bhadrak: A 54-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers in Odisha’s Bhadrak district on suspicion of practising witchcraft, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on September 25 at Banitia village under Bhadrak Rural police station, while the woman lodged a complaint with police on Wednesday, six days later.
According to her complaint, the villagers allegedly entered her house, assaulted her with a crowbar and wooden sticks, and damaged the fence and grill of the property. She also alleged that some of her belongings were taken away.
The woman further alleged that while she was being taken to a hospital in an auto-rickshaw after sustaining injuries, some villagers intercepted the vehicle, pulled her out and assaulted her again.
Police reached the spot after receiving information, rescued the woman and admitted her to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.
The woman alleged that she and her son had previously been attacked and that her son had to be hospitalised. She claimed that villagers had been accusing her of practising witchcraft.
Bhadrak Rural police station IIC said the FIR was primarily registered in connection with a land dispute, although the complainant had also alleged that she was being subjected to torture over suspicion of witchcraft.
A case has been registered against six persons, including two women, the IIC said.
Further investigation is underway, and no one has been arrested so far, he added.
