TNI Bureau: Three women and an old man became the victim of public anger in a village of Sundargarh district for allegedly practising the sorcery. They were paraded naked for several hours before the villagers on Monday.

The shocking sight continued from 9 am to 12.30 pm at Malpada village, about 115 km from Rourkela. The villagers claimed that Dungdung (65), his wife Christiana (60) and two of his neighbours Balamdina Soreng (45) and Philomina Dungdung (55) killed few villagers by the help of sorcery.

The villagers claimed them as sorcerers, who had caused illness to others in the village. They were allegedly meeting at night and practising sorcery to harm some villagers.

The village head Christiana Kerketta held a meeting on Sunday and asked the four to apologise before the villagers. They were asked to make a promise that they will never practise witchcraft. However, the accused refused to obey the Sarpanch order.

Reports said that three women and the old man were assaulted, their faces blackened. They were forced to parade naked through the entire village beating drums as part of their punishment. The action was taken on the consent of the villagers. Nobody dared to call police.

A DSP rank police officer has been sent to record the statements of the victims. Police said that stern action will be taken against the culprits.

Earlier, the same incident had taken place in the district. A widow was treated brutally and forced to parade naked at Tainsor panchayat in Lathikata block.