Tantrik beats man to death

Hoshiarpur, July 8 (UNI) A 'Tantrik' and his disciple have beaten a 35-year-old man to death with metal tongs at his dera at village Mehtabpur in Mukerian while trying to ''liberate'' him from ''evil spirit'', police today said.

Mukerian Police has booked self-styled Tantrik Baba Pala Ram of village Mehtabpur and his disciple Chhinda Baba of Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC.

According to the police sources, Raj Kaur wife of Gorakh Singh, resident of Jagatpur Kalan PS Purana Shala (Gurdaspur) complained to the police that her husband had been keeping unwell for the last 5-6 years and used to go to the Tantric Baba Pala Ram for getting relief through the ''Tantra-Mantra'' (occult rituals).

However, on July 6 when her husband went to the Dera, he did not return home. when she and her father-in-law Teja Singh went to the Dera to enquire about Gorakh Singh next morning, they heard cries of Gorakh Singh.

On reaching inside they saw that he was tied with a log and Chhinda Baba was beating him with a long metal 'chimta' (tong).

When they made loud protests over this, the Tantric and his disciple fled from the scene.

Gorakh Singh, who was crying out in pain, succumbed to his injuries. He leaves behind his wife, father, and two sons and two daughters.

Police was searching for the Tantrik and his disciple.

UNI