Representative image for an arrest.
Credit: iStock Photo
Holehonnur (Bhadravathi taluk): The police on Monday arrested a woman on charges of killing another woman in the name of “expelling evil spirit” from the latter at Jambargatte village in the taluk.
According to police, Asha is the accused and Geethamma (45) is the victim.
The woman was brought to the house of Asha on Sunday night after it was said that she was possessed.
The ‘exorcist’ said that an evil spirit had entered Geetha’s body. She told Geethamma’s son Sanjay that she would perform puja and drive the spirit away.
A puja was performed in front of Geethamma’s house. A stone was kept on her head and the woman started screaming. Hearing the noise, people gathered and made a video of the incident.
Asha sent away people making the video and continued the ritual. She started thrashing Geethamma with the bark of a
tree.
When the ‘the spirit’ insisted that it would not leave Geethamma, Asha dropped a huge stone on her head and poured cold water on it.
Geethamma, who was shivering, collapsed on the spot. She was taken to the community hospital in Holehonnur, where doctors confirmed the woman dead.
Sanjay lodged a complaint at the Holehonnur police station. Superintendent of Police Mithun Kumar visited the spot.