Monday, Sep 20, 2004
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By S. Ramu
DEVARAKONDA (NALGONDA DT.), SEPT. 19. Buying vermilion for her friend, Aakaram Kistamma, landed Aasapaka Mallamma of Pasnur village in Nampally mandal in serious trouble. Attributing the death of her relative to the "witchcraft'' practiced by the duo, villagers beat Mallamma and drove her away from the village on Friday. Following the alleged dictates of elders, Mallamma and her husband, Ramulu, have taken shelter in a secret place in Devarakonda, leaving behind their property in Pasnur. Talking to The Hindu on Sunday, Mallamma narrated her woes after she bought vermilion for Kistamma, who had been branded as a black magician by villagers. Ramulu and Mallamma had migrated to Pathanchervu for a livelihood a year ago. She visited her brother in Pasnur on raksha bandhan on August 30 and stayed in Kistamma's house. On Kistamma's request, she bought vermilion and oil the next morning. However, Ramulu's brother, Ramachanram, died two days later, leading to the suspicion that two women "did something to take his life by using vermilion."
Dragged and beaten
"As I was not on good terms with Ramachanram's family, his wife, Buggamma, spread the canard that I was responsible for the death. Provoked by her, a group of villagers dragged me and my husband from the house, used foul language and beat me severely, alleging that I was responsible for the death of 10 persons in the village," Mallamma said. She alleged that villagers, believing she was practising sorcery, wanted to shave her head and pluck out her teeth. The village sarpanch, Madhava Reddy, prevented them from doing so. Later, the couple was ostracised. "We are taking shelter here. We don't know what to do," said Ramulu, who is thinking of going to Hyderabad for the time being.
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