Tribal axe keeps police post free from spirits!

Patthalgaon, Chhattisgarh, July 31 (UNI) Tangi -- a small axe used by tribals -- keeps away evil spirits and protects the staff of Tapkara Police Post in Jashpur district! With this belief, a policeman regularly performs 'puja' in front of this axe that was gifted by a tribal tantrik to the post after the staff there faced a string of problems, ranging from snakebite to frequent transfers.

Post incharge J P Gupta told UNI that the tangi has been kept at the post and all staff members offer worship daily before reporting for duty. ''Whoever broke this tradition either received a transfer order within a month or faced some problems,'' he said while claiming that all such problems caused by evil spirits, and even snakebite, declined since the practice began.

Constable Ramnath Rathia, posted at Tapkara for the past five years, has been entrusted the charge of performing 'tangi puja'.

Sanction to establish the post was granted in 1989. As the area was earlier a crematorium, personnel posted there heard 'strange noises' and were also worried over the problem of snakebite.

Subsequently, the tantrik offered help.

Mr Gupta said the district's Tapkara and Farsabahar areas were part of 'Naglok' where several persons fall victim to snakebite annually particularly during monsoon. Policemen sleeping on the floor were exposed to reptiles. However, no such incident took place since the puja began, he claimed.

UNI