Bhubaneswar, August 3: A 35-year-old man, Gopal Malika, was brutally killed by a group of villagers in Odisha’s Gajapati district on suspicion of practising witchcraft, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred late Saturday night in Rachaguda village under Mohana police limits. According to the police, the man was allegedly strangled, mutilated his body was dumped in the Harabhangi Dam near Adaba. His remains were recovered from the reservoir on Sunday morning.
“We have detained 14 individuals for questioning,” said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of G. Udayagiri.
Preliminary findings suggest the villagers blamed the man for the recent death of a woman, believing his alleged black magic was responsible. Fearing for his safety, the victim had fled to his father-in-law’s house in Ganjam district with his family, leaving his livestock under the care of his sister-in-law.
He returned to Malasapadar on Saturday to collect his animals, but was allegedly abducted and murdered shortly thereafter. The body has been sent for post-mortem.
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the case.
