Nuapada, Oct 19, 2024 – A horrific incident unfolded in Odisha’s Nuapada district, where a 50-year-old man was set ablaze by villagers who accused him of practicing black magic. The victim, Kham Singh Majhi, is currently in critical condition following the brutal attack in Portipada village on Friday evening.
The villagers had convened a kangaroo court where Majhi was called to attend and face accusations of engaging in black magic. As tensions escalated, the mob tied him with straw ropes and set him on fire. Desperately seeking help, Majhi ran from house to house, but no one intervened. In a final act of survival, he jumped into a nearby pond, where his family later rescued him.
Majhi was initially taken to Sinapalli government hospital before being transferred to the district headquarters hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
His son, Hemlal, recounted the horrifying ordeal, stating, “The villagers accused my father of black magic and threatened him. When he denied the charges, they beat him and set him on fire.”
Local authorities have launched an investigation. Khariar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Arup Behera confirmed that a case has been registered at Sinapalli police station, and efforts are underway to apprehend the accused, many of whom fled the village following the attack. “We are in the early stages of the investigation and will determine the full extent of the motives behind this shocking act,” Behera added.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the dangers of superstition-driven violence.
