Bhubaneswar: A 72-year-old man was allegedly murdered in Odisha’s Chandaka area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar over suspicion of practicing witchcraft, police said on Saturday. The grim case has reignited concern over the deep-rooted superstitions that continue to fuel witchcraft-related violence across India.
According to Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, the deceased, identified as Balram Deogam, had been missing since the night of September 30, when he went to guard his agricultural field and did not return.
His skeletal remains were discovered on Friday from the Chandaka forest sanctuary area. Identification was made possible after his son recognized a neck ornament found near the skeleton.
Two persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement. Police said the accused confessed to killing Deogam, burying his body in the jungle, and throwing his belongings into a nearby pond to destroy evidence.
Rohit Arya’s full-proof plan exposed; Rehearsed ‘Kidnapping Show’ with kids
Cultural and Historical Roots of Witchcraft
Witchcraft has long been intertwined with India’s rural traditions. Known by names such as dayan, ojha, or tonahi, the practice historically included rituals, herbal medicine, and spiritual healing. In tribal and agrarian societies, witchcraft was often perceived as a way to explain diseases, death, or crop failures, events beyond scientific understanding at the time.
Over centuries, these beliefs became part of local folklore, passed down through generations. While modernization has touched most spheres of life, superstition surrounding witchcraft has proven remarkably resilient, especially in remote regions of Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, and Chhattisgarh.
Bomb threat at ED Office sparks panic; Police confirm hoax after thorough search
Modern Manifestations: Between Belief and Violence
Today, witchcraft remains a social problem as much as a belief system.
In many villages, individuals often women, widows, or the elderly, are branded witches after unexplained deaths, illnesses, or natural disasters. What begins as suspicion can spiral into social ostracism, torture, or even murder, as seen in the Chandaka case.
According to social researchers, witch-hunting stems from a combination of poverty, illiteracy, lack of healthcare, and entrenched patriarchy. In some regions, witch-branding is also used as a tool to grab property or settle personal disputes under the guise of superstition.
Why the Belief Persists?
Experts believe that ignorance and fear sustain the cycle. “When education and healthcare are inaccessible, people turn to traditional explanations for suffering,” says an anthropologist at Utkal University. “Witchcraft provides a convenient, though dangerous, scapegoat.”
Despite several states, including Odisha, enacting anti-witch-hunting laws, implementation remains weak. Activists stress that awareness, community engagement, and better access to healthcare are crucial to eradicating the problem.
A Crime Rooted in Ignorance
The Chandaka murder is not an isolated event but part of a recurring pattern that blurs the line between superstition and crime. As India strides toward a digital future, such incidents reveal how ancient fears continue to coexist with modern aspirations, often with tragic consequences.