Tribal Couple Hacked to Death Over Suspicion Of Sorcery in Odisha’s Kandhamal

Kandhamal: In a shocking turn of events, a tribal couple in Kandhamal district was brutally murdered by villagers who suspected them of practicing black magic.

The incident, which occurred on March 8th in Gadapadar village, involved Batasi Kanhar and Tahira Kanhar. Initially, authorities believed Maoists to be responsible. However, upon investigation, police discovered the killings stemmed from accusations of witchcraft.

Following the discovery of the couple’s bodies in a forested area, police became suspicious due to the nature of the killings. Unlike Maoist methods, the victims suffered head injuries inflicted with blunt objects.

Further investigation revealed that villagers ostracized the couple after some locals fell ill. Believing them to be witches, the villagers evicted Batasi and Tahira from their home.

A village committee meeting on March 4th allegedly led to a plan to eliminate the couple. Sunil Digal, the prime suspect, confessed to police that he was hired for ₹40,000 to execute the killings alongside ten others.

Police have apprehended ten individuals in connection with the double murder. Tahira Kanhar, one of the deceased, previously served as a ward member of Salaguda Gram Panchayat.