A horrific case of mob violence has emerged from Malasapadar village in Odisha’s Gajapati district, where a 35-year-old man was lynched and mutilated over allegations of witchcraft.
According to police, the victim was strangled by a group of villagers on Saturday night, who then mutilated his genitals and dumped his body into Harabhangi Dam. The body was retrieved on Sunday and sent for a post-mortem examination.
Authorities suspect that the villagers blamed the man for a woman’s death two weeks ago, allegedly attributing it to black magic. The crime took place under the jurisdiction of Mohana police station.
Suresh Chandra Tripathy, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of G Udayagiri, confirmed that 14 individuals from the village have been detained for questioning.
Earlier, the victim had relocated to his in-laws’ home in Ganjam district after receiving threats from local residents. His sister-in-law had been caring for his livestock in his absence. He returned to the village on Saturday to reclaim his cattle and goats when he was abducted and killed.
The brutal nature of the killing — combined with the mutilation and disposal of the body — has sparked outrage, shedding light on persistent superstitions and vigilante justice in remote regions.
Police are continuing their investigation, and further legal action is expected once evidence is verified. The incident underscores the urgent need for awareness and legal enforcement to combat witch-hunt-related violence.