On Wednesday, five Shamans had been called to treat one Palta Devi in the neighborhood. When the Shamans claimed that Somani had cast her spells on the patient, her family members started to beat her. “She is very frightened. She shows abnormal behavior time and again,” said her son Dev, adding, “Locals including family members of Palta Devi came to our home and beat my mother,” he recalled. He said that the locals had forced filth into her mouth and also threatened to kill them if they protested.
Somani has lost her incisors and her tongue is critically injured.
“Palta Devi´s family has hired several muscle-men around to prevent protest against the incident,” said Hem Shankar Sardar, a local social worker.
The victim´s family has lodged a compliant at the District Police Office (DPO) Morang against eight members of Palta Devi´s family, including her husband Mangal Lal and son Baidhya Nath. “We will call both the parties on Sunday and find a way out,” said sub-inspector Jamuna Basnet. The victim´s family, however, claimed that the police was being lenient with the offenders.
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