Odisha: Man killed over 'sorcery' suspicion; accused arrested

A person was arrested yesterday in connection with the mysterious death of a man in Kandhamal district’s Gopipadar village, police said on April 20. The accused has been identified as Balunkeswar Mallik from the same village.

Janek Mallik was brutally killed on March 22 and the body was dumped on the village road. The police recovered the body next day.

According to the police, Balunkeswar killed Janek suspecting him to be practicing sorcery. He killed Janek with stick and stones and later dumped his body. After committing the crime, Mallik fled the village.

“Some people used to call my father a sorcerer. There were fights in the past too over the same matter. Balunkeswar had earlier threatened to kill my father,” said Janek Mallik’s son Varun.

As per Janek’s daughter-in-law, “He was quite unpopular in the village. In fact, some people hated him suspecting him of practicing sorcery. And finally, he was killed.”

However, Balunkeswar was arrested yesterday and stick and stones used to murder Janek were also recovered.

The accused will be produced in the court. Further investigation is underway.

Also read; Delhi Shocker: Brother-in-law, cousin killed man, stuffed body in sack over property dispute