BALASORE: Police on Sunday rescued three persons of a tribal family who were chained to a tree by a group of villagers on suspicion of sorcery in Soro area of Balasore.
The victims are Chaita Singh, his wife Muni Singh and sister in-law Tuni Singh of Mallichua village under Soro police limits.
Police said Chaita was performing a puja in his house on Saturday when some villagers barged inside and stopped him. They dragged him outside and tied his legs with an iron chain accusing him of practising witchcraft. Though Chaita pleaded innocence, the villagers assaulted him and chained him to a tree.
Chaita’s wife and sister in-law tried to intervene and requested the villagers to release him. However, they too were reportedly assaulted and chained to the tree.
On Sunday, Chaita’s nephew Gobinda Singh of nearby Sajanagad village lodged a complaint with Soro police requesting the cops to rescue his uncle and others.
Acting on the complaint, a team of police rushed to Mallichua to rescue the trio. However, they could not reach the village as irate locals had blocked the local road by placing timber logs.
Later, IIC of Soro police station Sudipta Sahoo went to Mallichua and held discussion with the villagers. After much persuasion, the villagers cleared the road. Subsequently, Chaita, Muni and Tuni were rescued and admitted to Soro hospital for treatment.
Soro sub-divisional police officer Subhransu Sekhar Nayak said condition of the victims is stable. Further investigation is underway.