The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Case booked against village elders for witch hunting

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 25, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Case booked against village elders for witch hunting

Staff Reporter

KORITIKAL (NALGONDA DT.): The elders of this village in Chandur mandal have burnt their fingers by taking four villagers to a witch in the neighbouring Mahabubnagar district to check with her whether the foursome resorted to black magic.

The police booked cases against the 10 elders and have launched an investigation.

The village elders summoned Addanki Bhikshamaiah (50), Bollam Ramulu (65), Chilakaraju Anjaiah (55) and Devara Lingamaiah (54) to a ‘kangaroo court’ holding them responsible for the deaths of animals and ailments of people in the village.

They were then taken to a witch at Tadur in Mahabubnagar district.

The foursome were asked to pay Rs.5,000 each to meet the expenses.

Tadur SI Shankar brought the villagers to the Munugode police station on Friday evening.

The Inspector G. Ramulu and SI N. Chandrababu met the victims and asked the reasons for not approaching the police in the face of such humiliation.

Branding

Mr. Bhikshamaiah, said “they attributed every death to my so called black magic. They hackled me for approaching the police.

I am ostracized in my family circle because of the false allegations against me. I went to Tadur with a hope of getting rid of the blot for good,” he told The Hindu.

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