<p>Thirty-four people, including five women, were arrested from a village in Odisha's Ganjam district for allegedly attacking a family a month ago, accusing them of practising 'witchcraft'.<br /><br />The incident happened at Gobaralundi village on July 2 and the police arrested all the accused yesterday.<br />The villagers not only attacked the family but also allegedly forced them to swallow human excreta, police said today.<br /><br />The family members were later admitted to Sorada hospital after suffering from diarrhoea due to consumption of human excreta, police said.<br /><br />"We had detained 50 people from the village and 34 out of them were arrested. The arrested persons belong to eight families," said inspector in-charge of Badagada police station, Jibananand Jena. More people involved in the incident are likely to be arrested, he said.<br /><br />Earlier, the police had registered a case against 55 people in this connection.<br /><br />After the attack, all seven members of the family had taken shelter in Badagada, 15 km away from their village.<br /><br />One of the victims, Babula Nayak, was allegedly assaulted by the villagers on Saturday last when he had returned to the village.<br /><br />Their house was looted during their absence, he told the police.<br /><br />"We have registered a fresh complaint in this connection. We will seek permission from the court to take them on remand in connection with the loot," Jena said.<br /><br />Sajani Nayak, another victim had lodged an FIR three days after the July 2 incident.<br /><br />Suspecting a 70-year-old man and his family of practising witchcraft after a girl became ill.<br /><br />The villagers had imposed a fine of Rs 4 lakh on him and Rs 2 lakh each on other members of the family.<br /><br />They were forced to consume human excreta when they expressed inability to pay the fine, the police officer said.<br /><br />Since witchcraft-related incidents take place frequently in the area, police said they have taken the matter seriously and all the persons involved in the case would be arrested soon.</p>
<p>Thirty-four people, including five women, were arrested from a village in Odisha's Ganjam district for allegedly attacking a family a month ago, accusing them of practising 'witchcraft'.<br /><br />The incident happened at Gobaralundi village on July 2 and the police arrested all the accused yesterday.<br />The villagers not only attacked the family but also allegedly forced them to swallow human excreta, police said today.<br /><br />The family members were later admitted to Sorada hospital after suffering from diarrhoea due to consumption of human excreta, police said.<br /><br />"We had detained 50 people from the village and 34 out of them were arrested. The arrested persons belong to eight families," said inspector in-charge of Badagada police station, Jibananand Jena. More people involved in the incident are likely to be arrested, he said.<br /><br />Earlier, the police had registered a case against 55 people in this connection.<br /><br />After the attack, all seven members of the family had taken shelter in Badagada, 15 km away from their village.<br /><br />One of the victims, Babula Nayak, was allegedly assaulted by the villagers on Saturday last when he had returned to the village.<br /><br />Their house was looted during their absence, he told the police.<br /><br />"We have registered a fresh complaint in this connection. We will seek permission from the court to take them on remand in connection with the loot," Jena said.<br /><br />Sajani Nayak, another victim had lodged an FIR three days after the July 2 incident.<br /><br />Suspecting a 70-year-old man and his family of practising witchcraft after a girl became ill.<br /><br />The villagers had imposed a fine of Rs 4 lakh on him and Rs 2 lakh each on other members of the family.<br /><br />They were forced to consume human excreta when they expressed inability to pay the fine, the police officer said.<br /><br />Since witchcraft-related incidents take place frequently in the area, police said they have taken the matter seriously and all the persons involved in the case would be arrested soon.</p>