4  held for caning woman to death

JAGATSINGHPUR: At least four persons, including three women, were arrested by Kujang police on Saturday for allegedly caning a mentally ill married woman to death at Balia village. The accused have been identified as Minati Beura and her 15-year-old daughter Subhashree, Jayanti Patra and Narendra Pradhan of the village.

Sources said claiming that Subhashree possessed supernatural healing powers, Minati and her daughter used to ‘treat’ patients suffering from various ailments for  the last two years. Subhashree, who studies in Class X in Balia High School, used to cane patients in order to cure their diseases. While Jayanti performed rituals to appease evil spirits, Narendra used to provide canes and assist them in the process. 

The deceased, identified as Susmita Nayak of Sasanipada under Patakura police limits, was mentally ill for the last two to three years. For the last four days, Subhashree and her mother caned Susmita on the pretext of curing her illness. On Thursday night, the beating was so severe that the victim became senseless and died.Kujang IIC Bichitrananda Samal said the arrested have been forwarded to local court on Saturday.