Police avert witchcraft, seven held

The police have arrested and released seven people, who were allegedly involved in witchcraft in pursuit of a hidden treasure, at Hosalli, in the taluk, on Tuesday.

Sudheer of Nerale village, Madesh of Hedatale, Suraj of Konanakunte in Bengaluru, Ravindra and Shivappa of Sullia, Padmanabha of Puttur in Dakshina Kannada and Suresh of Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, are the arrested.

The presence of a 10-year-old-boy, son of Ravindra, one of the accused, along with the gang, has given rise to suspicion of a sacrifice. However, the police did not confirm that the boy was brought for a sacrifice.

The police said, all the accused were friends and Suraj had learnt witchcraft. Sudheer had heard about the availability of a treasure at a farmland of one Shivanna at Nerale village and had informed about this to his friends. All the accused were involved in performing some rituals on Thursday night and were preparing for a sacrifice.

A local resident, who noticed the activities, alerted the villagers, who caught the accused. Following the incident, Shivanna has lodged a complaint with Doddakavalande police.