KOLLAM: In what can be called a height of superstition, a woman died on Monday due to injuries caused by torture, in the name of exorcism, which lasted for last two weeks at Thazhava, near Karunagappally.
The deceased has been identified as Haseena, 26, of ‘Kannankara Kuttiyil Veedu’, Kadathoor, Thazhava.
The exorcist, identified as Sirajuddin, is absconding. The woman’s father, Hassan, 58, and an aide of the exorcist, Kabir, 58, of Thodiyoor were taken into police custody here on Wednesday in connection with the incident.
Hassan was taken into custody for engaging the exorcist ‘to liberate his daughter from the possession of evil spirits that caused her mental illness’. The autopsy report of the woman revealed that she suffered internal bleeding and a broken backbone pointing out the extent of torture, Karunagappally police said. Sirajuddin used to begin the rituals by midnight.
The woman became weak as she was given limited food for several weeks and the rituals included ‘magic spells’ and physical torture. This continued for the last two weeks. “Haseena used to resist during the first few days but later she became weak due to the torture and lack of proper food,” the police said.
The woman died during the process on Monday. Later, Sirajuddin fled from the place.
The body was taken to a District Hospital for post-mortem, which revealed it was prima facie a case of unnatural death.