ROURKELA: Three self-styled witch doctors were arrested on Tuesday after they killed a 40-year-old Sobha Kisan, who had a history of illness. The incident occurred at the interior village of Kandhatuda, about 170 km from Rourkela, near Bileimunda in the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district. For the last one year, the woman was suffering from stomach ailments along with headache. Sobha and her husband Yudhistir sought help from the accused Maheswar Kisan, Tikeswar Bhoi and Jagannath Naik - all in early 20s. The three promised the couple to cure Sobha by exorcising evil spirits.During interrogation, the three revealed that they had learnt the art from a Nagpur-based godman. Police said in the wee hours of Tuesday the accused told the woman that she was in the grip of an evil spirit and asked her to shake and rotate her body. Subsequently, they beat her up severely as a result of which, she fell unconscious. Though she was rushed to Hemgir primary health centre, Sobha was pronounced brought dead. DIG (WR) YK Jethwa said police action alone cannot curb the social evils and massive awareness at the community level was necessary. He said as a long-term solution, sustained efforts by NOGs and volunteers on creating awareness among people was necessary. A couple of months back, four persons including three women of Tainsor village were arrested after they humiliated a widow by branding her a witch. In the past, several sorcery-related murders took place in the district.
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