World · India Bureau
Odisha woman assaulted over witchcraft allegations, six arrested
A woman in Odisha was publicly stripped and attacked by villagers who accused her of practising witchcraft. Police have registered a case against six people, including two women, following a delayed complaint.
LSN India ·
The incident occurred on September 25 in a village in Odisha, with the victim approaching authorities only days later on Wednesday to lodge a formal complaint. The delayed reporting prompted police to register a first information report (FIR) against the six accused villagers on charges related to assault and public humiliation.
According to the police account, the woman was subjected to physical abuse and forced removal of clothing by the group, who acted on suspicion that she was engaged in witchcraft practices. The circumstances that led the villagers to make such accusations remain unclear from available information.
Beliefs in witchcraft persist in parts of rural India, occasionally leading to vigilante violence against those accused, often disproportionately affecting women. Such incidents have prompted state governments and civil rights organisations to intensify awareness campaigns aimed at combating superstition and protecting vulnerable populations.
The case adds to documented instances of witchcraft-related violence in eastern India. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, with further details expected as the case proceeds through the legal system.