Dalit families attacked in Maharashtra for allegedly practising 'black magic'
New Delhi, August 24
Seven members of two Dalit families were thrashed by local residents on suspicion of practising “black magic” in a village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
The Chandrapur police said that incident took place in village Wani under Jiwti tehsil over the weekend and 13 persons have been arrested so far.
Atul Kulkarni, additional SP of Chandrapur, stated that seven members of two families were summoned to the village square by local residents who accused them of practising “black magic and possessing spirits”. As they reached the village chowk, people started throwing mud on them. Later, the crowd tied three of them to wooden poles and thrashed them with sticks and also punched them.
The police shifted the victims to hospital for treatment. They have received serious injuries.
The police added that they are gearing up for more arrests and booked the accused for atrocities under relevant sections of IPC and SC-ST Act.
