A heartbreaking incident has shocked the residents of Sangli district in Maharashtra, as a 14-year-old boy lost his life after being brutally assaulted by a witch doctor who claimed that the teenager was possessed. The young boy, a resident of Kavathe Mahankal, succumbed to his injuries on May 20, but the incident only came to light after anti-superstition activists reported the matter to the police. According to the complaint filed by members of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an organization dedicated to combating superstitions and blind faith, the boy had been suffering from a persistent fever for several days. Despite receiving medical treatment, his condition showed no signs of improvement. In desperation, the boy’s family decided to seek the help of a ‘Tantrik’ or witch doctor named Appasaheb Kamble in the nearby town of Shirgur, located in Karnataka.
The witch doctor, Kamble, allegedly asserted that the boy was possessed by a malevolent spirit and claimed that the only way to free him from its clutches was through physical assault. Tragically, the severe beating inflicted upon the boy resulted in grievous injuries. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the family rushed him to a hospital in Miraj, located within the Sangli district. Despite the medical intervention, the young boy tragically passed away while undergoing treatment. Following the boy’s untimely demise, members of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti met with the grieving family and Assistant Police Inspector Jitendra Shahane at the Kavathe Mahankal police station to file a complaint.
However, since Karnataka does not have specific legislation against superstitions, the police registered a zero First Information Report (FIR) under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with cases of death caused by negligence. This allows the complaint to be forwarded to the appropriate jurisdiction, in this case, the Karnataka police, who will conduct further investigations into the matter. The tragic incident highlights the urgent need to address the issue of superstition and its harmful consequences. Authorities and organizations must work together to raise awareness, enforce existing laws, and introduce stringent measures to combat such practices, preventing further loss of innocent lives to baseless beliefs.