In a shocking incident that exposes the dark underbelly of superstition, a young woman in Kanpur was allegedly gang-raped by her own maternal uncle and a self-proclaimed sorcerer. The crime was committed under the cruel pretext of performing rituals to remove black magic. The Sajeti police have arrested both accused, who are now in judicial custody.
The Disturbing Sequence of Events
The survivor, a 22-year-old woman from a village under the Sajeti police station, had returned home about a week ago. She had been missing for a couple of months after eloping with a local youth. Upon her return, her family became convinced that the man's family had used tantric practices to lure and control her.
It was then that her 67-year-old maternal uncle allegedly intervened. He misled the family, suggesting they fight "tantra with tantra." He took them to a 70-year-old tantrik named Kallu residing in Ghatampur. The tantrik began performing rituals at his house, claiming the village youth had cast a spell on the woman, which caused her to elope.
Kallu assured the family his rituals would break the spell. He ominously warned that if left untreated, she would fall under the man's control once again.
The Horrific Assault in the Name of Rituals
The situation took a horrific turn on Saturday. The woman has alleged that the tantrik and her uncle took her to a closed room under the guise of performing a crucial ritual. Once inside, both men took turns to rape her.
In her complaint, the victim stated that the two men made various excuses before sexually assaulting her. When she protested, the tantrik coldly declared that the assault was part of the ritual process to rid her of the black magic.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
The brave survivor later approached the Sajeti police station and filed a formal complaint. Based on her statement, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code against both the maternal uncle and the tantrik.
Sajeti police station in-charge Anuj Bharti confirmed the arrests. "The accused were arrested and sent to judicial custody," he stated. The police also arranged for the woman's medical examination to collect crucial forensic evidence for the case.
This appalling incident highlights how superstition and blind faith can be weaponized to commit heinous crimes against vulnerable individuals, often within the confines of family and trust.
