Bhubaneswar, Oct 1: A 54-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a group of villagers in Odisha’s Bhadrak district over suspicion that she was practising witchcraft, police said on Thursday.

The incident reportedly took place on September 25 in Banitia village under Bhadrak Rural police station. However, the woman lodged a complaint with the police on Wednesday, six days after the alleged incident.

According to the complaint, a group of villagers allegedly entered her house and assaulted her with a crowbar and wooden sticks. They also allegedly damaged the fence and grill of the house and took away some of her belongings.

The woman further alleged that the assault continued while she was being taken to a hospital in an auto-rickshaw. Some villagers allegedly intercepted the vehicle, pulled her out and assaulted her again.

After receiving information, police reached the area, rescued the injured woman and admitted her to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

The woman also alleged that she and her son had been attacked earlier and that her son had required hospitalisation. She claimed that villagers had repeatedly accused her of practising witchcraft.

The Bhadrak Rural police station IIC said the FIR was primarily registered in connection with a land dispute, while the complainant had also alleged torture over witchcraft suspicions.

Police have registered a case against six persons, including two women. No arrests have been made so far, and further investigation is underway.

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