Women suspected of practising Sorcery, 2 teenagers charred to death

Kendrapada, July 8 (UNI) Suspecting a widow of practicing sorcery, irate villagers set ablaze her house yesterday, killing two teenaged sisters and critically injuring the widow.

The bizarre incident took place in minority-dominated Sukarapada under Salepur police station, 25 kms from here, Salepur Police station Officer-In-charge Trinath Mishra said.

According to Mr Mishra, the deceased were identified as Anjum Bibi(13) and Tabasum Bibi(12). The girls were daughter of Sk Raffudin, a resident of Sukarpada.

The widow identified as Akhtari Bibi is still battling with life in SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.

Police said the miscreants allegedly poured kerosene on the thatched house, locked the main door from outside and set the house ablaze.

Later some locals with the help of Salepur fire tender officials managed to rescue the two sisters and the widow from the house in a critical condition. They were rushed to the SCB medical college and hospital at Cuttack for treatment, where the sisters succumbed to their injuries.

Police said the villagers suspected Akhtari Bibi of practicing witchcraft and attributed all the problems faced by them in the past to the black magic practiced by the widow. Senior police officials rushed to the village to take stock of the situation.

Police have been deployed in the village to monitor the situation. No arrest has been made so far.

A scientific team from Cuttack visited the village to help in the police investigation.

UNI XC DP SP SRS RK1858