Witchcraft Suspicion Leads to Murder of Elderly Man in Kalahandi
Kalahandi, Odisha — In a chilling case of superstition-fueled violence, a 74-year-old man was allegedly murdered by three youths in Manasthara village under Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district.
The victim, Ekuna Majhi, had been missing since August 28. His son, Mangala Majhi, filed a missing person report the same day at Biswanathpur police station.
Following an intensive investigation led by SDPO Kesinga Sandeep Majhi and Lanjigarh IIC Jitendra Biswal, police discovered Ekuna’s body hanging from a tree in a nearby forest on September 1.
The accused—Naresh Majhi (26), Chakra Majhi (22), and Murali Majhi (28)—were arrested and produced in court. Their bail applications were rejected, and they have been remanded to judicial custody.
Investigators believe the motive stemmed from suspicion that Ekuna was practising black magic. A postmortem was conducted, and the body was handed over to the family.
Biswanathpur IIC Tulsiram Sabar confirmed that a case has been registered under Biswanathpur PS Case No. 57/25, and further legal proceedings are underway.
This incident underscores the persistent dangers of superstition and the urgent need for awareness and education in rural communities.
