Reports indicate that more than two hundred residents of the village of Siadimal in India's Balasore district have fled their homes to escape the "curse of an enraged witch". These residents told police at least ten people in the village are experiencing a mysterious fever that has resisted treatment for months. There is a longstanding belief that diseases and death are the result of sorcery and has led to anti-witch persecutions in the past. Local sources have said that villagers unanimously agree that a witch was responsible for the illness. The men of the village were reportedly in search of a tantrik to combat the curse and locate the one responsible.
Activists have asked regional authorities to step in to prevent vigilante justice. A subcollector has reported that only five people are suffering from fever; He added that"But they haven't gone for proper treatment. We are now planning to rope in a rationalist organization and a psychiatrist to talk to the village headman and the priest and make them see reason. It will be done within a day or two,"
The last major anti-witch incident was on August 29, 2007 when tribal residents of a nearby village beheaded four persons (one man and three women) after accusing them of witchcraft.
Activists have asked regional authorities to step in to prevent vigilante justice. A subcollector has reported that only five people are suffering from fever; He added that"But they haven't gone for proper treatment. We are now planning to rope in a rationalist organization and a psychiatrist to talk to the village headman and the priest and make them see reason. It will be done within a day or two,"
The last major anti-witch incident was on August 29, 2007 when tribal residents of a nearby village beheaded four persons (one man and three women) after accusing them of witchcraft.
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