In a chilling incident that highlights the lingering grip of superstition in rural pockets of Odisha, the grave of a 27-year-old woman was allegedly dug up 42 days after her burial, and her head was severed and taken away, reportedly for black magic rituals.
The gruesome discovery unfolded at Narsinghguda village under the Nandahandi block within Tentulikhunti police station limits in Nabarangpur district, leaving locals in a state of deep shock and panic.
Buried Due to Beliefs, Guarded for Weeks
According to local sources, the young woman had passed away on September 26 while suffering from chickenpox. Driven by the traditional belief that a divine spirit had possessed her body, the family opted against cremation and instead interred her remains at the village burial ground.
Fearing that practitioners of sorcery might attempt to desecrate the grave, the family kept a strict, round-the-clock watch over the burial site for 21 days following her death. Believing the danger had passed once three weeks elapsed, they eventually ceased their vigil.
Gruesome Signs of Black Magic
The horrifying truth came to light 42 days after the funeral. Villagers heading out early in the morning noticed the mound had been completely excavated and alerted the deceased woman’s family.
Upon arriving at the scene, relatives and villagers discovered unmistakable signs of an occult ritual. Two sacrificed chickens lay inside the opened grave alongside scattered items associated with sorcery practices. Most horrifying of all, the woman’s head had been cleanly detached from the body and removed.
While the primary motive points toward dark arts rituals, local authorities have yet to officially establish the full circumstances surrounding the act. Following the terrifying discovery, the grieving family reburied the remains.
Police Await Formal Complaint
Addressing the media, Nabarangpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Krushna Chandra Bhatra stated that law enforcement had not yet received an official written complaint regarding the desecration.
“If a formal complaint is lodged by the family or village leaders, the police will exhume the body under proper legal supervision and initiate a full-scale investigation to ascertain the facts,” SDPO Bhatra assured.
Meanwhile, a cloud of fear and anxiety hangs over Narsinghguda. Outraged locals have demanded immediate intervention by district authorities and swift police action to hunt down the culprits responsible for desecrating the grave and practising illegal occult rituals.
